Teach your daughter this:

You are empowered 

If your bank account is
 
surplus and sufficient, 

Your house help is

Regular and efficient, 

If you are well-trained, 

On raising your profit 

quotient, 

And no one dares to 

Stop or question, 

Your spending decision. 

You are empowered 

If you walk to work 

Without being taunted
 
Or made to feel guilty
 
To not first give birth; 

But instead encouraged
 
To up your own worth,

And decide if you are

Ready to bring 

A life on earth.

You are empowered,
 
If you  have your

Own house and

Medical insurance, 

Not empty promises, 

or false ‘future’ 

assurance. 

You are empowered, 

If you are not distracted
 
To ‘appease’ as 

An object of beauty, 

Rather raised with 

self -defence skills 

And busy raising 

Your immunity. 

You are empowered 

If your effort is 

Rewarded, 

Your results applauded,
 
But most of all, 

Your smile is tear-proof, 

You enjoy being 

Your truly unique self, 

Not pressured to be 

A colour, a height,

A certain weight,

That you need 

To ‘improve’.

You are not empowered 

If you are obsessed,

To be accepted by others,

or

Give yourself up, 

Just to be 'approved'.