Graphic for International Women’s Day, March 8, 2026, featuring a large gold number 8, silhouettes of women, floral accents, and the text “March, 2026 – International Women’s Day” with Lekh-Lekhni.com at the bottom.

Yes, I am a Girl: A Poetic Appeal for Equality International Women’s Day 2026

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Yes, I am a Girl

The purpose of this image is to raise awareness and advocate for women’s rights and safety in connection with International Women’s Day 2026. The graphic challenges the phrase “What Women Really Want” by crossing out “Want” and replacing it with “Need?”, emphasizing that women’s concerns—such as safety, security, stability, support, solace, and strength—are fundamental necessities rather than optional desires. The inverted triangle visually frames these needs as central and urgent.

Yes, I’m a girl

a normal girl.

I’ve just started 

to see the world.

So far, I’ve only 

seen a few glimpses of life.

Yes, I am a girl, a girl 

with limitless dreams, 

dreams of unfathomable depths, 

and dreams of unconquerable heights.

Yes, within my bright dreams lies 

my unspoken faith in society and in all its people.

I aim to foster a trusting environment 

with those who are raising me, 

including my parents, grandparents, 

classmates, teachers, and 

the broader community. 

Building strong relationships 

With them is essential for 

My personal growth and development.

Yes, I am a girl,

sweet, innocent.

Everyone has loved me very much.

My society has given me 

everything I deserve.

I have never felt afraid anywhere,

in any way, or from anyone.

Yes, I am a girl.

This society has given me a lot.

If I were to tell my story,

I wonder how many pages it would take,

I wonder how many pens it would take,

how many sleepless nights it would take,

and how many days of restlessness it would take.

Yes, I am a girl.

I am an important part of society.

I make up almost half the population.

From history to the future.

In the text of humanity.

I, too, have a contribution.

Now let’s move on to the truth,

to the reality, to the other side

that is not visible, or rather

hidden, not exposed

the side that reveals the brutality,

the face behind the beautiful masks.

That face, which seems to be 

our sympathizer, our own support, 

and everything, gives us 

a false sense of completeness, 

safety under its protection. 

However, the reality is quite different.

I am a girl, and I am grateful 

for the support of my family 

and community leaders. 

As part of the female population, 

I play an important role in 

our society and expect respect.

My abilities are unmatched. 

My goal is to contribute 

to society and move forward 

independently with confidence.

But I never know when I’ll fail.

People either deny my existence

or, for some unknown reason, 

attack me so much that

All my courage and 

determination vanishes into thin air.

And I consider just being alive a blessing.

My story begins when I’m conceived.

If I survive that journey, my innocent childhood

is subjected to savage gazes.

If I survive this stage,

Attempts to trample me at the next step

begin, at every step

I’m not made to face danger, 

So why am I made to face 

Inhumane treatment for no fault of mine?

What’s my fault? The God who 

created man also created me. 

I am part of this humanity. 

I, too, have the right to a safe sky, 

a safe earth, and a happy life free 

from the fear of being trampled. 

It is society that should tell me 

whether I have my rights.

The most important question is,

despite all this,

why should my existence be questioned?

Will society be able to function without me?

Is a new generation possible without me?

Without me, will this world,

this society, this humanity survive?

Will all the stories of an inclusive society

remain the same as the ones you and I know?

Stop for a moment, consider this:

So many laws, rules, regulations, 

and policies…

Why do they fail to protect me?

The hand that promises to support me,

Why does that very hand betray me?

In short, I just want a peaceful, safe life

free from cruelty, free from harassment

a normal life

not to be sad about being a girl,

I want to celebrate it.

I appeal to all my loved ones

not to limit our humanity 

to just a few laws,

only on special days.

We don’t want our honor,

Or rather, we don’t want anything extra,

We just want our share in 

the sky and that little piece of earth

that no one can take away from us.

I neither want a special day

nor a special event dedicated to my womanhood.

I don’t want anything that makes society worship me.

I don’t need empty promises,

I just want a healthy, clean, and beautiful society,

where I can fearlessly spread my wings and fly.

Yes, I am a girl,

I am an integral part of human society.

It is impossible to imagine 

the human race without me.

As an integral part of society, 

I expect full inclusion, not 

neglect or oppression of my womanhood. 

Yes, I am a girl, a girl with wings, 

 a girl determined to realize her limitless dreams.

Yes, I Am a Girl

A voice of innocence, resistance, and limitless dreams

Yes, I’m a girl,
a normal girl.
I’ve just started
to see the world.

So far, I’ve only
seen a few glimpses of life.

Yes, I am a girl, a girl
with limitless dreams,
dreams of unfathomable depths,
and dreams of unconquerable heights.

Yes, within my bright dreams lies
my unspoken faith in society and in all its people.

I aim to foster a trusting environment
with those who are raising me,
including my parents, grandparents,
classmates, teachers, and
the broader community.

Building strong relationships
with them is essential for
my personal growth and development.

Yes, I am a girl,
sweet, innocent.
Everyone has loved me very much.

My society has given me
everything I deserve.
I have never felt afraid anywhere,
in any way, or from anyone.

Yes, I am a girl.

This society has given me a lot.
If I were to tell my story,
I wonder how many pages it would take,
how many pens it would take,
how many sleepless nights it would take.

Yes, I am a girl.

I am an important part of society.
I make up almost half the population.
From history to the future,
in the text of humanity,
I, too, have a contribution.

Now let us move to the truth,
the reality,
the hidden side—
the face behind beautiful masks.

The face that pretends to protect,
yet offers a false sense of safety,
while the reality remains brutal.

My story begins when I am conceived.
If I survive that journey,
my childhood meets savage gazes.
At every step, I am tested.

What is my fault?
The God who created man also created me.

I, too, deserve a safe sky,
a safe earth,
and a life free from fear.

Why should my existence be questioned?
Can humanity survive without me?

Laws exist, policies exist—
yet why do they fail to protect me?

I do not want anything extra.
I just want my share of the sky,
and a small piece of earth
that no one can take away.

I want to celebrate being a girl,
not apologize for it.

Yes, I am a girl,
an integral part of human society,
a girl with wings,
determined to realise
her limitless dreams.

© 2026 . All rights reserved.

Women need more than just symbolic ceremonies; they require tangible support and resources to enrich their lives truly.

Conclusion

Womanhood doesn’t need glorification, symbolic celebrations, or sympathy.

Womanhood does not require worshipping them or treating them as god-like.

Under the grand celebrations, the hollowness in intentions makes everything murkier and inhumane; it didn’t work in the past, and after so many horrifying instances of sexual exploitation and other atrocities, we have failed ourselves to make the idea of humanity real.

Equality is more of a right rather than a favor. For a progressive society, our girls need their own space, their own sky, without fear, compromise, or justification.

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© 2026 Shalini Priyadarshiny. All rights reserved.
This poem, “Yes, I Am a Girl,” is an original literary work. No part of this content may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form without prior written permission from the author, except for brief quotations with proper attribution.

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