I may indeed be brave, but maybe that’s missing the point.

I have to wonder why so much courage is expected of girls and women in this world. So much daily bravery in the world, and yet... how would we know? It goes unsaid. Imagine the volume, were we to hear the sound of all those voices at once. We have to listen for them. Otherwise we are united only by silence.

But you know, there is nothing to be afraid of in the dark... That doesn’t also exist in the light.

Blaming the victim is an act of refuge and self-deception. It allows the blamer to sit in judgment, imagining some mystical justice that means bad things happen only to bad people, thus ensuring their own safety.

I have to wonder why so much courage is expected of girls and women in this world. So much daily bravery in the world, and yet...how would we know? It goes unsaid. Imagine the volume, were we to hear the sound of all those voices at once. We have to listen for them. Otherwise we are united only by silence.