• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Lyn Fairchild Hawks

YA Author, Teacher & College Essay Consultant

  • Readers
  • Books
  • Writers
  • Teachers
  • About
    • Awards
  • Essay Consulting
  • Contact Me

Why Didn’t She Say Something?

Lyn Hawks · December 14, 2017 · Leave a Comment

“Why didn’t she say something?” That’s what a reader asked me back in 2013, angered that Wendy suffered in silence after an assault. My YA novel, How Wendy Redbird Dancing Survived the Dark Ages of Nought, grapples with a survivor’s dilemma: speak up and risk not being believed—or worse, being destroyed by the perp and the public.

And listen to the same chorus ringing out today.

When a woman speaks out shouldn’t be the point, but watch it become the subject. Trust that Wendy’s silence is complicated, as is her eventual speaking out.

The simple truth is what Jessica Goldstein said so well recently in McSweeney’s: “As young girls, we feel like maybe now is a good time to just throw something out there. See if it sticks. A PSA to all grown men on the face of the Earth: We do not want to have sex with you.”

Let’s try this again: Why didn’t she say something?

Because what happened is too horrible to put into words.

Because reliving it might make you faint or vomit. Or kill yourself.

Because he’s older.

Because Mom is overwhelmed by her life and always upset about something.

Because he’s Mom’s boyfriend.

Because he knows a ton of people in this town.

Because you won’t be believed.

Because everyone will talk about you.

Because now you’ll be That Girl.

Because everyone else is living a simpler, happier life and your trauma will interrupt theirs.

Because you’ll be asked why–about the outfit, about the time, about the situation. About the relationship.

Because you must have done something to encourage him.

Because smart girls should know better.

Because the candy store at the mall uses girl bodies to sell sugar.

Because someone near you just made a joke about sluts.

Because you’re busy looking over your shoulder in the parking lot.

Because close to 50% of Alabama electorate just voted for a pedophile.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: How Wendy Redbird Dancing Survived the Dark Ages of Nought, How Wendy Redbird Dancing Survived the Dark Ages of Nought, sexual abuse, sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment

Want to hear more from Lyn? Subscribe to her monthly newsletter

Archives

  • January 2023
  • July 2022
  • February 2022
  • December 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • November 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • May 2019
  • March 2019
  • January 2019
  • August 2018
  • May 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • November 2016
  • September 2016
  • July 2016
  • February 2016
  • November 2015
  • August 2015

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube

About me

“author

(Photo by My Friend Teresa Studios)

Could I live without words, writing, story? Probably not. I love telling stories. I love teaching stories. I love helping other people find theirs. That’s my story. [READ MORE...]

Want book news and writing tips? Subscribe to my newsletter

From Instagram

Wendy is coming up on her 10 year anniversary! I c Wendy is coming up on her 10 year anniversary! I can’t believe it… And I can’t believe how talented this whole cast and crew was that made this book come to life. Love this clip. @therealslimcaity you captured Wendy, heart and soul. 💜📚💜

.
.
.
.
#bookanniversary #yalit #yabooks #GenX #GenZ #howwendysurvived #booknerd #bookish #wewillsurvive
Keep reading, even if the cat won’t have it😻📚😻

.
.
.
.
#amreading #orangetabby #booknerd
It’s 2013 and Minerva Mae is ready to deliver so It’s 2013 and Minerva Mae is ready to deliver some journo justice. Is it better to go NYT or TMZ when you live in a town that trashes its girls? 
.
.
.
.
#yalit #coverreveal #yabooks #historicalfiction #journalism #authorsofinstagram #authors #author #writinglife #GenZ #GenX

Copyright © 2023 · Lyn Fairchild Hawks