Sex Work is a Work: A

Sheer Exploited Reality of Prostituted Women and Gender-Based Violence

The world is beautiful, My mother shines radiant and wise She gives me food, she gives me comfort

But she leaves me lonesome at night

I fall asleep wondering how she’ll greet me when a new morning arise

Though bruised and tired, she offers me a warm smile

The world is beautiful, but my mother suffers at night

The world grows wider as time passes by My older sister is beautiful and spry

She gives me hugs and kisses me goodnight

Once more, I fall asleep knowing her love-filled eyes

Alas, it was the last I’ll ever see her alive…

The world grows dimmer as time passes by

The world is kind, just and bright

I follow this man and leave my siblings behind

For a roof over our heads, and a future to find

For my sister to go to school, smiling wide

For my brother to breathe, no longer ailing and cry

For my family, I’d sell my soul to sick predators who lie

The world is kind, yet it contains injustices alike

The world is dreadful, I tell no lie

It hounds sisters, mothers, It drags girls, WOMEN to vilify their lives

To be abused and be bruised, To lose life and leave loved one ’ s agonized To sacrifice themselves and face injustice, futures seized stolen and compromised

The world is dreadful, I tell no lie

The world is beautiful, but it let's women suffer to die the world is wide, and it’s filled with uncertainties, I testify the world is kind, but it’s laden with daggers inside the world is dreadful, yet it doesn’t have to be, I tell no lie So we must remember, sear these truths in one ’ s mind Of one ’ s longing for a better world, amongst us Women thrive best in an environment just Just that does not wrong one ’ s dignity or trust

Trust of each person ’ s right to be treated as above such Such is a woman ’ s rightful status in this world, each one of us

by: Leih Jocelle Solidad

Hey, Chunky Lady

by: Althea Montecillo

hey, chunky lady, they say squeeze yourself and try to take a lesser space, oh, you are a few pounds extra, such a disgrace! if only you’re not fat, then at least you’d fit in perhaps, starve yourself until you get thin hey, chunky lady, they say your waist is too wide, your arms are too flabby we’re looking for petite girls, small and pretty slim and slender like a play dough moulded perfectly but your size is just too big for this kind of society hey, chunky lady, i think they’re right that you’re chunky and large as they say, and yes, you’re few pounds extra but i think that’s okay their expectations are not yours to meet, you’re beautiful whether you do or do not fit hey, chunky lady, your body is wild, and loose, and free, it takes up space, and as it should be it’s brave and bold, far from their fragile femininity you’re large and loud and I think that's your beauty i had an