I'm sorry, I have a question:

When did it start?
Girls being told they were less than boys, that they'd never be anything but wives and mothers,
that was their role in society, no questions asked
Girls being forced into frilly pink dresses they'd never wear otherwise
playing with Barbie dolls when they wanted toy trucks?
Being told they had to look pretty, no matter what,
because being pretty is the only way to get a boy to notice you,
and so it's a girl's most important duty in life
(next to being a wife and a mother, of course).
Being told they had to be palatable
not to have any controversial views about anything--
or if they did, don't dare bring them up
because no one likes a rebellious girl.
Society tells us we're past these things,
that girls can be anything now, but
why do I still believe some things are shameful or secret
like the bag of pads I carry in the front pocket of my backpack
that I'm embarrassed about mentioning I ever use
even though 50% of the population does too and it's not anything to be ashamed about
and why do boys still talk down to girls, 
say things to them they'd never say if they were the same gender
because they think they can?
Why did I feel the need to preface this poem's title
with an apology
I'm sorry, I have a question:
Why do I need to apologize for these things?
If I were a boy, would I apologize?
If I were a boy, would I think I had anything to apologize for
because society would tell me it was okay to speak my mind,
and then they'd say boys will be boys
if a girl ever accused me of wrongdoing?
But when did people start believing that it was okay for boys to
do these things,
wait, not just okay, normal?
Boys will be boys, but what is that even supposed to mean?
I'm sorry, I have a question:
Will this ever stop?