in a country where,

no is seen as yes

a dress ‘too’ short is an invitation

a neckline too deep makes you ‘cheap’

heels too high make your chances of getting home safe, steep

lipstick too bright is not considered right

where anyone who has a body is oh so irresistible

in a country where people look for reason to blame the victim and give the culprit asylum

in a country where owning your body is ‘asking for it’

in a country where everything but consent, is consent

in a country where men think that the women’s clothes speak for them and not the women themselves

in a country where women’s safety is an everlasting joke

I wonder why they are still surprised when people ask them, “so, what were you wearing that day?”

~Ananya Trivedi, Amity International School, Noida