How to Be the Perfect Woman

A poem about the often contradictory expectations that men seem to have of women. However, I do NOT mean to imply that ALL men hold these ridiculous notions! :D

How to be the Perfect Woman

 

Don’t be ugly, or I will recoil from you.

Don’t be stupid, or I will exploit you.

Don’t be fat, or I will mock you.

Don’t be suspicious, or I will resent you.

 

Don’t be too beautiful, or I will not trust you.

Don’t be too intelligent, or I will feel inadequate.

Don’t be too thin, or I will reprove you.

Don’t be too trusting, or I will deceive you.

 

Don’t be too willing, or I will despise you.

Don’t be free with money, or I will say you’re wasteful.

Don’t be undignified, or I will be disgusted.

Don’t be ill, or you will be too much trouble.

 

Don’t be chaste, or I will say you’re frigid.

Don’t be wise with money, or I will say you’re stingy.

Don’t be too dignified, or I will say you’re repressed.

Don’t be too healthy, or I will call you a health-freak.

 

Don’t be too attentive, or I will say you give me no freedom.

Don’t ignore me, or I will feel unloved.

Don’t be too dependent, or I will think you weak.

Don’t be too independent, or I will say you’re afraid to be a woman.

 

 

© Ruth Fanshaw 2011

Reviews

[ice]

That is a lot of don'ts..I agree with none of them.
" I do NOT mean to imply that ALL men hold these ridiculous notions! "
I should hope not..maybe many do hold those notions, but they are never married, or stay in relationships for long.
Enjoyed the poem, even it it did cause me to be a little uncomfortable.

[Angela]

unfortunately It's not just the men this can apply to, correct. We women can be our own wordt enemies. I LOVE this. Very raw and real.