My Life (So Far) Under His Shadow

My thoughts...

This is a series of stories I wanted to tell for a while now. While I prefer to write stories that make people laugh, there are few moments of levity here. My focus will be the treatment I received by certain men in my life including previous workplaces and one toxic relationship.

In my teens and 20s (and, of course, still now), I wanted to be treated normally. My hobbies, my words, my actions, my ambitions–because I am a woman these things are often judged differently. There was a time that I thought, "If I were just born a boy, things would be better...easier for me." Facts are facts.

I hate staring at the past, but perhaps this history lesson in bullying, harassment, belittling...perhaps it's worth telling to help put an end to this sort of treatment. I will change details as to not specifically identify individuals or workplaces; however, one individual who was particularly malicious doesn't deserve to be shielded by anonymity.

The scary thing about posting these stories is thinking how they can make ME look bad. I suppose that is normal. In most of these instances, I'm the unwilling participant. Did it make me stronger? Sure. Would I rather this shit never have happened? Absolutely.

P.S. There are many, many good men in my life–past and present. And there are bad women, too.