Spoken word poetry has been one of my favorite interests for years. I love how there is a poem for every mood, and it gives people a platform to share their experiences. Feminism, the belief that all genders are equal, is also a strong passion of mine. Here are a few of my favorite feminist spoken word poems!
1. “Our Line, This Time” Belissa Escobedo and Rhiannon McGavin
“Forty-two years ago, after protest and petitions, Roe v Wade rocked the nation. We finally gained the rights to our bodies back. No more tears or dreams would be lost in battle. Since 1977, over 400 laws have been passed, over 200 since 2010, trying to rip away rights we fought so hard for, trying to steal back bodies that were never theirs. But we will not stand for it anymore.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpeHBSKm_o4
These Los Angeles teens take a stand against politicians policing women’s bodies. It is ridiculous that people who will never experience being female feel qualified to make laws controlling our bodies, and this poem seeks to express that this is something we will no longer stand for. With this powerful piece of poetry, they draw the line.
2. “The Jewelry Store” Andrea Gibson
Content Warning: slurs
“I can guarantee a haircut will never tell you anything about someone’s gender, who they love, or how they fuck”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTi7oS4FcQU
Andrea’s powerful poem on gender identity and expression contains so many stories and experiences that can teach something to everyone. Whether you’ve been discriminated against because of your gender expression, had someone assume false information about you because of how you present or are just curious to learn about these experiences, give this poem a listen.
3. “War on Women” Casandra Faith
Content Warning: rape
"Politicians view it is unpatriotic to use this phrase 'war on women'. The phrase is somehow disrespectful to the millions of Americans who actually served in a real war. But each time they speak they awake the 144 women who died while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, spinning them over in graves and unearthing their sacrifice. Listen closely. You will hear a platoon of ghostly voices question, what else should we call this then?”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkD9NoUo3cg
This poem offers the perspective from a female military soldier on the ‘war on women.’ Many argue that this is an inappropriate term and disrespectful to soldiers, but Casandra Faith proves how appropriate the term is.
4. “The ‘I’m Sorry’ Poem” FreeQuency
Content Warning: rape
“Forgive me please for not getting the memo, that if I drink a little too much I go from being a woman to a hoe. For forgetting, if I sip drinks, liquor shouldn’t be the only thing I expect down my throat, because if I’m not really asking for it, he would have known.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CW5b3RG7mfk
FreeQuency speaks about a topic that is all too relevant right now. The “letter from [herself], Brock Turner’s victim, and any woman who has ever survived sexual assault,” is a commentary on rape culture that will leave you speechless.
5. “Bodies” Denice Frohman & Ms. Wise
Content Warning: rape
“I learned early on I had to cover up, wearing sweatpants in the July heat, hoping to suffocate my fire because too many men felt entitled to stick their hands in my stove. Before I ever got the chance to try my own figure, I had already been figured out.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWL_aR1kFYc
I’ve always loved spoken word duets. They are a way to compare and contrast different poet’s experiences, and the writers of “Bodies” do just that. This poem raises the issue of ownership of one’s body: something that all female-identifying people deal with at some point in their lives.
These are a just a few of many feminist poems that everyone should listen to. Each artist’s voice contributes new opinions, experiences, and artistry. What are some of your favorite spoken word poems?
