I Hope To Be An Old Woman Who Dresses Very Inappropriatedly

Women in business
Dress is man-style suits
And treat their secretaries
In a man-style way.

Women on campus
Wear "masculine" thoughts
And look to daddy for
Good grades.

Married women
Give their bodies away
And wear their husbands'
Wishes.

Religious women
Cover sinful bodies
And ask redemption from god
Not knowing
She is within them.

That's why I'll always love
The fat woman who dares to wear
A red miniskirt
Because she lvoes her woman's body.
The smart woman who doesn't go to college
And keeps possession of her mind.
The lover who remains a mistress
Because she knows the price of marrying.
The witch who walks naked
And demands to be safe.
The crazy woman who dyes her hair purple
Because anyone who doesn't love purple
Is crazy.

Dear Goddess: I pray for the courage
To walk naked
At any age.
To wear red and purple,
To be unladylike,
Inappropriate,
Scandalous and
Incorrect
To the very end.

-Gloria Steinem