Poemorama at Paper Poetry

Being Female is Taboo

A sonnet about female gender issues

The hot topic of transgender women, Janes who were born biologically male competing with those God gave wombs, amen, in sports arenas designed for females

I can’t believe we’re having this debate when anyone with a brain knows it’s wrong Please don’t let social engineers dictate Our sisterhood must rise up and be strong

Right NOW we must establish firm boundaries if we don’t act, we’ll fail our descendants All rights of women deemed arbitrary They will be lost if we are complacent

To those who aim to cancel out our truth you’re saying being female is taboo.

© Carolyn Hastings 2022

I’ve written this sonnet in response to Suntonu Bhadra’s one-word prompt: taboo. Suntonu has given us nine more one-word prompts, all of which can be found in Paper Poetry’s Poemorama Part II.

I realise that in writing this piece, I will no doubt raise the ire of some readers; however, we are all entitled to our opinion, and I am claiming my right to express mine.

Let me say here that I have no issue with men who identify as female. That, though, does not override the fact that they are and always will be biologically, genetically, and phenotypically male. And because of that inherent, indisputable part of what makes them who they really are, they will and always will be more male than female. That, then, gives them an unfair advantage over biologically, genetically, phenotypically female participants in high-performance settings such as sports fields, swimming pools, gymnasiums, dance studios — and, yes, even catwalks.

Clear boundaries, rules and regulations, laws and legislation need to be in place for the protection, respect and dignity of all who are born female and identify as female. That cannot in any way translate to cancelling out the status of being biologically, genetically, phenotypically female.

A more suitable home for this piece would have been Melanie J.’s Unpopular Opinions publication, but since I’ve prepared this piece for Poemorama, I’m inviting Melanie and a few others to join in — Denise Darby | Tracy Busby | Christina Marie | Gal Mux. 🙏 💞

There’s only a few days left of Poemorama — Paper Poetry’s three-part, global celebration of poetry for National Poetry Month. You’ll find the details and links for all three parts here -

Please enjoy this tiny selection of amazing Poemorama pieces –

Leave Me Here by Raine Lore —

A Poemorama Tribute by Megan Nicole Morgan —

A Feather Chooses to Fly by Divya Goswami —

Thank you all for reading. 🙏 💕

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