Introduction
As young girls we are taught to 'let the boys win,' 'you catch more flys with sugar than vinegar,' 'he only does it because he likes you,' 'boys will be boys,' 'girls are sugar & spice and everything nice,' etc.
As teenagers we are told to stay in a group together, don't go to the bath alone, don't leave your drink unattended.
As women we are told not to rock the boat at work, not to try to outshine the men, don't be that aggressive bitch.
In fairytales, the female gets herself in trouble and has to be rescued by a man. In all the advertisements, on social media we are shown what we should strive to look like and in the songs we grew up listening to, the men do as they please, while the women are told how to or how not to behave. Examples; He Hit Me, Under My Thumb, Run Around Sue, Stand By Your Man, The Wander, Pretty Woman, Music To Watch Girls By. This is just a short list. We have been so conditioned to these types of gender indoctrination that we didn't notice it unless someone pointed it out.
Not much has changed in my 68 years on this planet.
This collection of poems, antidotes, stories and editorials are my way of expressing my story of sexual assault/rape, some of the experiences of growing older and some of my rage on violence towards women. This is not a self help book but rather just one woman's perceptive
