By midlife, I have become a world expert
I have a resume so impressive it would still be impressive if it were split in two.
But amateur men still feel the need to explain to me, 
badly,
topics that I literally published original research on during my PhD.
Topics that they clearly don’t understand
based on the incoherence of their “explanations.”
I daydream often about being able to transform my appearance
to that of a 6’3’’ heavily-muscled White Man
and transform my voice into something low and intimidating
something suitable for God in an animated film.
Then I realize that transforming myself into a scrawny, disfigured man would be enough.
Or honestly, even a 12-year-old boy whose voice hadn’t broken yet – 
he would garner more respect,
because he has the POTENTIAL to be a man.
If I could be a 12-year-old boy on my conference calls
imagine how much less shit I’d have to deal with.

I hope this makes you angry.
It makes me angry.

[Featured Image by McGill Library on Unsplash]