I came across this song by an artist named Angel Haze where she goes into graphic detail about her experience with sexual abuse as a 7-year old girl.  Listening to her lyrics is almost impossible, but it is her story to tell, and the way she lays it out is not only compelling, but gut wrenching.  Her song makes me want to cry, because of what happened to Angel, and also because by being a woman it is almost impossible to have never experienced some sort of sexual exploitation.

Rape, child brides, sex slave trafficking, guys feeling you up on the subway, men verbally harassing you on the street… these are all a part of the female experience. The spectrum of violation ranges from the most extreme, to a faint whisper of the horror.  But I think we all have had some hint of intrusion.  I don’t know one woman who hasn’t had at least one uncomfortable sexual encounter that felt demoralizing.

When I found out I was pregnant I wanted a daughter so badly I could taste it.  But having a girl child comes with a different kind of vulnerability; the terror she may one day be dishonored by a man.  Just writing that makes me want to throw up with rage.

I have so much respect for Angel.  For speaking out about her pain.  So often this heinous acts are buried under the secrecy of shame.  The more woman that speak out, the more the world will be forced to listen.
Please… lets create a future where we don’t have to fear our daughters being molested.