Voluptuous, and
Intelligent Too
Janet Kuypers
6/4/19, written after hearing about Chicago Tribune
news reporter Maurine Dallas Watkins, who, after
reporting about female murderers who dressed up,
wore make-up, styled their hair, and acted “feminine”
to get out of murder convictions, then wrote a play on
it, which was later adapted into the musical “Chicago”
Too many times
men treated me
as if I couldn’t have a brain,
and they objectified
me every chance
they could take.
I was thrown
into their male-
dominated den, but I learned
fast — I had the brains,
but I could also use
what made men
weak. You see,
I wore mini skirts,
plunging necklines and padded
bras, and I learned
how to flip my hair
and act ignorant,
because — get
a load of this —
being intelligent doesn’t work
with men’s notion
of objectification.
I played my part,
I was adored
(and my men actually
thought I was a natural blonde)
and I knew exactly
how to play
their game —
because I could
flaunt my wares
just enough to make men salivate,
I allowed men to adore,
until I could show them
a thing or two about
being intelligent too.
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