She was wearing shorts. It was hot outside.
It happened at a party she went to with all of her friends.
She was wearing that little black dress. The one that made her feel pretty for once in her life.
It happened while she was drunk.
She didn't know what was happening and he sure as hell did.
It happens. All the time.
Wolf-whistles sound on the street that make her walk just a little bit faster.
Taunts from the sidewalk that make her heart beat like a hummingbird's wings and ice cold fear to run through her veins.
Jeers from the back of the room that she tries to scrub off of her skin in the shower and send down the drain, along with blood and grime and her dignity.
Afraid to wear what she wants, go where she wants, afraid to live.
Because if she does these things they'll say,
"She was asking for it."
No, she wasn't.
But society tells her she was.
And after being told that throughout her whole life,
She slowly starts to believe it herself.
You are amazing.
ReplyDeleteI want to use this with my sophomores too, even though they're probably not ready for it. Most people aren't. But I agree with you 100%.
It makes me think about the dress code. Who's to blame? The girl wearing the skirt? Or the boys who can't control their thoughts? It's a shame.
Try BYU's dress code. You'd think the RMs could handle a lil' knee. (i know i know, it's Jesus's school).
Delete"she tries to scrub off of her skin in the shower and send down the drain, along with blood and grime and her dignity."
ReplyDeletewow.
Daaaangggg girl.
ReplyDeleteYou know what's up.
The part about the shower.
ReplyDeletedamn.
ReplyDeleteThis got to me.
i think everyone in creative writing can join me in saying "you're one heck of a good writer." keep it up kid.
ReplyDeleteYou've done it again. The ugly truth in the best addressed form.
ReplyDelete"Jeers from the back of the room that she tries to scrub off of her skin in the shower and send down the drain, along with blood and grime and her dignity."
ReplyDeleteChills. so good.
Too many of these stories are known and almost everyone knows someone who has felt this horrible feeling of guilt and how some keep in in because it was their fault. Others feel rage of being disrespected like that, even though they are speaking up about it doesn't mean they aren't still scared, but they choose to put justice to it and to stop the monster who said it wasn't their fault, that they were asking for it.
ReplyDeleteIt's not just girls though either, Boys can be raped to but is far more embarrassing to bring up weather it was a boy or a girl. for some reason to many people it is not seen as important as a girl being raped and just that isn't right boys are no different from girls.
#Rant
I completely agree with you. Sadly, boys seem to view it as demasculating, so it's kept quiet a lot more with them. It's almost a taboo subject. Which it shouldn't be. Like you said, there's no difference.
DeleteThis post is so true. Glad you're not afraid to say it like it is.
ReplyDeleteThank god for people like you. So much of the world doesn't see this way and it's toxic. The worse part is if anyone tries to say anything about it people dismiss the subject. I say we teach people ASAP that being a conceited ass (excuse my french) isn't okay and that you should be able to have self-control and respect for others.
ReplyDelete