The thing no one tells you when you’re born with a female body is how often that body is likely to absorb the violence of men and boys, and I don’t just mean in the obvious ways. I don’t just mean your body may be assaulted or abused, perhaps many times. What I mean is: you may find your body holding secrets, like the one about the boy knocking you down during backyard baseball and then screaming at you for making him do it. Like the one about your uncle, pastor, coach, friend, boyfriend, husband. What I mean is: you may find your body on your parents’ porch, pinned against house siding by a young man you thought you had a crush on, begging for mercy, apologizing profusely for some perceived insult, praying to be set free before your dad and brother — visible through the window, sharing a laugh near the dining room table where a rifle sits mid-cleaning — look your way and come running. What I mean is: you may find your body being pushed down repeatedly by your boyfriend — in the presence of another man, his best friend — and even then your body won’t cry for salvation, she won’t ask Best Friend to do what he eventually does, won’t ask him to shove your boyfriend’s body so hard the wall receiving him shivers. What I mean is, this is the thing no one tells you about being born with a female body: when home is the body of a girl, a woman, home is often standing between boys and men, arms outstretched, bracing for impact.
Author Bio:
Elizabeth “Liz” Enochs is a queer writer from southeast Missouri. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in English, Liz spent most of her twenties working as a journalist, essayist, and occasional travel writer. Now, she writes poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction in her spare time. Liz has been writing since the day her mother gave her a blank notebook and told her to fill it up with stories. Liz’s cup runneth over with delightful femmes and coffee and cats. More often than not, you'll find her in the woods. You can check out Liz’s writings on her website: http://elizabethenochs.com/.
Author Bio:
Elizabeth “Liz” Enochs is a queer writer from southeast Missouri. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in English, Liz spent most of her twenties working as a journalist, essayist, and occasional travel writer. Now, she writes poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction in her spare time. Liz has been writing since the day her mother gave her a blank notebook and told her to fill it up with stories. Liz’s cup runneth over with delightful femmes and coffee and cats. More often than not, you'll find her in the woods. You can check out Liz’s writings on her website: http://elizabethenochs.com/.
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