What’s Wrong With a Girl Leading?

A quiet question that challenges everything we were taught about power.

They say I’m too loud.
Too bold.
Too much.

But I’ve seen boys raise their voices and get claps.
I raise mine and get silence.

Why does leadership look so different on me?
Why is ambition a crown on his head, and a burden on mine?

I don’t want to lead because I want power.
I want to lead because I see what needs to change —
because I’ve sat in silence and watched the world ignore what it should have held.

So tell me again,

What’s wrong with a girl leading?

Because when I lead, I lead with care.
I see the girl, too scared to ask for a pad.
I see the boy, pretending to be fine.
I see the child, who asked a question and got scolded.

If that makes me a leader,
then maybe the world needs more girls like me.

— Sanyuktha