Men Explain (or: An Incomplete List of Things Guys Have Said to Me Since Puberty)
“Yes, we love the good men in our lives and sometimes, oftentimes, the bad ones too—but that we’re not in full revolution against the lot of them is pretty amazing when you consider this truth: men get to rape and kill women and still come home to a dinner cooked by one.”
— Jessica Valenti, Sex Object
“Why do you consult [women’s] words when it is not their mouths that speak? Consult their eyes, their colour, their breathing, their timid manner, their slight resistance, that is the language nature gave them for your answer.”
— Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Emile
But how can I trust you, when you let
someone kiss you when you were single
and drunk and didn’t want to kiss? Do you
know how to say no? Do you know how
to resist? He doesn’t want to be friends
with you because men only want
one thing. He doesn’t want to mentor you
because men only want one thing. Please
keep the door open, they’ll wonder
about closed doors. I’ve never been called
sexist before. I feel bad for women
with big tits because you can’t look professional
in a button-up. You remind me of girls
I used to fuck. Some men find it hard
to work with strong women, but I am not one
of those men. Some men find it hard
to date strong women, but I am not one
of those men. Do you have any friends
who are just as hot but less
feminist? I don’t want to date
someone smarter than me. You’re
not smarter, you just try harder
than me. Marry rich. Marry him. Marry
me. You have, ah, certain physical
qualities. Don’t be jealous, but
you have the second-best ass
in grade ten. You’re not like
other women, and I’m not like other
men. Do you ever feel different than
your friends? Smile. You’re too pretty
to be alone. Can you say yes yes
into my phone? No works too. You
don’t have to flirt, your hair flirts
for you. I’ll give you a thousand bucks to
suck my cock. If you lost ten pounds,
you’d be really hot. He doesn’t love
you, he just wants to get his dick
wet. If you didn’t want attention,
why’d you wear that dress? You shouldn’t
have kissed me if you didn’t want
sex. My buddy asked me what I wanted
for my birthday and I pointed at you.
Give me a hug, beautiful.
Why do you give such shitty
hugs, beautiful? Can I buy you
a drink? If you won’t let me
kiss you and you won’t let me
buy you a drink, what can I do? I love
you, but not in a way you can
understand. I love you, but you
will never find what you are
looking for. Look at me when I’m fucking
you. It makes me so sad, the way
men hurt women, but I am not
one of those men. It makes me so guilty,
the way I hurt you, I don’t want to be
one of those men. I’m used to being cared for
by women. I just want you
to hold me. I need you to
tell me I’m enough. I need you to
tell me you love me. You’re a slut.
You’re cold. You’re hateful.
You rage. You owe me,
you tease. You are not
stopping me.
