Am I bigger than her?⁣⁣
I ask my husband⁣⁣
As a woman passes on the street⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Am I bigger than her?⁣⁣
I ask myself, as I walk into the room⁣⁣
Measuring up all the women⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Am I bigger than her?⁣⁣
I look at a picture of younger me⁣⁣
A “memory” on Facebook from years ago⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Am I bigger than her?⁣⁣
I am asking:⁣⁣
Am I less attractive?⁣⁣
less powerful?⁣⁣
less likable?⁣⁣
less worthy than her?⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Comparing myself to her size⁣⁣
And her size⁣⁣
And her size⁣⁣
⁣⁣
If I’m bigger than her, then I’m less than her⁣⁣
If I’m smaller than her, then I’m more than her⁣⁣
⁣⁣
And her size and her size and her size⁣⁣
My self worth going up and down with each comparison⁣⁣
Scoring points in a game against myself⁣⁣
There’s always someone bigger⁣⁣
And always someone smaller⁣⁣
There’s no winning this game⁣⁣
⁣⁣
It’s just reducing women to their size⁣⁣
Aren’t we bigger than that?⁣

~Nina Manolson