They tell me keep it innocent, elegant, feminine Perfect little specimen, never too venomous Cover every inch of me, still wanna see evidence Natural aesthetic but they edit every blemish in Cookin' in the kitchen, but apparently it's effortless Cleanin' every room and somehow never call it labourless “Don't be so emotional”—the classic little prejudice Then when I get assertive, suddenly I'm “dangerous” Tell me I'm too loud, then complain I never speak enough Tell me I'm too soft, then wonder why I don't believe in love Want me independent, but dependent when it suits 'em up Build a little box for me, then ask me why I'm movin' up Contradiction, contradiction, look at the condition Every definition got another definition Pretty little prison dressed up like tradition Then they call resistance some ridiculous affliction I'm not your mannequin, I'm not your medicine Not your little specimen, perfect for comparison You want obedience, packaged up with elegance I want my own identity, that's where the difference is They say “know your place,” then they ask me where I've been Say “don't make a scene,” then they wonder why I'm silent Say “be independent,” but don't let me get defiant Funny how the rules disappear whenever I'm compliant Make a woman small, then complain she isn't powerful Teach her to be quiet, then accuse her of being cowardly Give her every burden, call the burden “natural” Then when she drops the weight, suddenly she's difficult Imagine if the roles reversed, would everybody notice it? Same old little prejudice, different little protagonist Same rules, same punishment, same manufactured consequence Then label me a “hater” when I'm calling out the hypocrisy I'm clockin' every contradiction, every hidden little stipulation Every expectation masquerading as an invitation Every “that's just how it is” becoming ammunition If the system needs my silence, silence is my opposition No permission, no submission, no inherited position I don't need your definition to establish my existence You can keep the contradiction, keep the cage and keep tradition I'ma turn the whole damn thing into a rhythm and a rhythm.
