Atlantis: Critical Studies in Gender, Culture &amp; Social Justice Issue 46.2 (2025) Original Literary Work Day of the Girl Child Poetry Winners: Second Place
A Woman’s Burden
by Jyotsana Balasubramaniyam
She wakes with a weight upon her chest, A society that judges her, even at her best, Her worth, her weight, her every move, Constantly, relentlessly, but she tries to improve, She is faced against expectations high, To conform, and to comply, To be sweet, to be serene, To hide her strength, let it be unseen, Try and try is all she does, But still, will she ever be enough? In a world that grins when women fail, The echoes of her doubts begin to prevail, She refuses to let this harsh world win, Finding strength in struggle, even sporting a grin, Eventually she finds her skin, And she stands tall, unapologetically herself.
Jyotsana Balasubramaniyam (she/her) is a grade ten student who loves reading and exploring new ideas. She also enjoys taking walks as they help her to relax and clear her mind. Jyotsana believes that words are powerful and can make a real difference in the way we see and understand the world around us.
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