Speak Up, Speak Out: Stories About Bodily Autonomy

hijab, stickers, protest sign, megaphone

Every day seems to usher in a new cause for women to march to with their bright posters with even louder messages. As people in Iran flood the streets following the death of Jina Mahsa Amin, ten writers at Girls Write Now share their own stories of harassment, identity, and stigma. Each piece captures the vulnerable realities of women. Each writer bravely shares her story, knowing countless women will relate to her words. Each work is a protest, a subversion to the silence expected from women in Iran and Texas and elsewhere. News, media, and even the stories here depict a scary world, but they affirm that you have a voice. A voice to make choices about your body.

-Farah Merchant, Girls Write Now Class of 2022

My Persecution

By Natalie Henry

This poem explores the interpersonal and intrapersonal dialogue of someone being harassed on the street.

Disney Princess

By L. Olivia

Mia, a sixteen year old girl, struggles with body dysmorphia when her friends ask her to be a Disney Princess for Halloween.

I’m Not Hungry

By Adelle Xiao

This piece was based on an experience I had a few years ago with a boy who constantly commented on my body and weight, and my journey in separating how he defined me with how I saw myself. There were a lot of things I had to say about this relationship, and I had to experiment a lot with the flow and format of the story.

i’m worried about her

By Anaís Fernández

An ode to hers everywhere.

The First Naturalista

By Emmanuella Agyemang

In this piece, I stumble across the wonders of natural hair and after, try to convince my mother to let me go natural.

I am just a girl

By Srihitha Pallapothula

This is a poem about Monica Lewinsky. I wrote this piece to reshape the narrative. Some parts in style after Eleanor Wikstrom.

pretty vain

By Grace Cuddihy

About loving your pretty.

Beauty By Heart

By Tiara Liz Soto

There are many stigmas surrounding body image and beauty standards to the point where it has become underestimated. This poem is written through the lens of a girl who experiences it but finds strength to overcome it.