they say: embrace your sexuality, be proud, be strong, be fierce; but not too much. don’t go too far, don’t be too sexual, don’t be too strong — you don’t want to make us uncomfortable. we don’t want to feel like we cannot control you. i say: i am proud, i am strong, i am fierce. anyone who doesn’t like it can take it up with my breasts and my legs and my fists and my teeth. i am being the person i want to be. if you don’t like what you’re seeing then avert your eyes; i thought you wanted me to roar, not whimper.