Thoughts
A poem by sophie
In Thoughts, Sophie confronts the myths that shape how violence is understood - and misunderstood. The piece reflects on safety, power and blame, and why so many survivors are left carrying harm that was never theirs.
THOUGHTS
By Sophie
It’s like you’re set up from the start.
You’re told, don’t go down dark alleys at night.
Don’t be alone walking outside at night because that’s where
They’ll attack you.
That’s where you’ll be Raped.
They don’t tell you that the vast majority of cases of Rape are
within your own home.
Or somewhere you feel safe.
With someone that you felt safe with.
Somebody you knew.
Somebody you’re married to, you’re in a relationship with or
someone you’re dating.
They set you up.
Because this world is run by men.
For men.
It is the patriarchy.
They want you to be naive and uneducated so they can take
advantage of you.
They want you to learn the wrong narrative so that you’re not
prepared.
You’re blindsighted.
They set you up.
They don’t tell you that in the moment you can feel like you’re
Paralysed.
That you’re watching it unfold in front of you and you cannot do anything.
Even my own voice in my head is screaming at me to do something,
but I couldn’t.
You lose a part of yourself.
You’re stuck in the flashbacks.
You’re never the same again.
You’re blamed for their actions.
They set you up.
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