Girl in the Attic is a small comic by Hyein Lee, who, in her own words, is an “engineer turned illustrator”.

It’s a quick read, only 6 pages long, yet it’s a really powerful story.

“The Girl in the Attic is a very powerful comic. Could you talk about the process of writing and creating that?

I’m grateful that you found it powerful. It actually happened to me and I grew up often worrying about that girl in the attic. When I was in Sheridan College, my wonderful teacher, Blair Drawson gave us an assignment: look at the mirror and tell yourself everyday, “Among many things, I am a writer”. That simple exercise gave me a confidence to write my own stories. I started to show my dark stories that I haven’t told anyone. I think stories that are closest to your heart is the most engaging.”

- Hyein Lee: How One Feminist Devours Artistic Mediums : Ms Magazine Blog

As a society, we encourage girls and women to be emotionally accessible, and in touch with their feelings; we say that it’s an innately feminine trait. We say it, that is, until they have feelings that make us uncomfortable, at which point we recast them as melodramatic harpies, shrieking banshees, and basket cases.

Quote from Birth of the Uncool | Bitch Media.

By Sarah Mercer.

Tony Porter: A call to men | Video on TED.com.

“Some days I’d tell my mom that I just wasn’t ready for marriage but she told me that I should think about it more. After a few months, the guy’s family called and told me that I had to make up my mind. They said “Marry him or risk never being married.” I was so frustrated at the amount of pressure they were putting on me. I began praying to see what God wanted and what was best. I spoke to a Mullah about the situation. He told me that it would be in my best interest to marry the guy and it would make my parents as well as God happy with me.”

- Part 1: At seventeen I was engaged to a man I had never met.

“I realized after too damn long that women are not created to be there for men. We are not created to satisfy their sexual needs regardless of what some assholes may think. Women were not created to make a man feel important. Women were created because we’re just as fucking important as men are. It killed me inside. It really did. I hated everything I had become and everything that I had done to make him happy.”

- Part 2: Trouble in Paradise.

“I am not against all forms of arranged marriage. I don’t know if my marriage can even be called arranged because I did agree to it. But I am against women not having the same rights as men. I am against women being forced to marry. I am against women not being able to get a divorce unless they go to hell and back but a man with the snap of his fingers can get divorced.”

- Part 3: Girls don’t run.

This is a reality not many realize exists. I know a lot of uninformed people who would probably dismiss it as fiction.

I just began reading the “Beauty Myth” by Naomi Wolf. Just now as I closed it for a bit and turned to television for a bit, I caught “What Not To Wear” (ep 250) and suddenly I finally (fully) understand why the self-esteem of the people that go there seems to improve dramatically!

It’s interesting how the woman on this show even brought up the word value. She finally has the self-esteem that lets her value herself, therefore her clothes should reflect value as well. This points directly at what the book discusses, a woman’s self-worth being intertwined with her appearance.

WTF?! When harassed, who doesn’t just love to hear this gem from someone close to them: “Maybe you did something to provoke it.”?!

NO! FUCK NO! Do I really need to shout out loud how wrong this is?! Really? The sad thing is, this is more common than we ‘d like to admit.

The sick mentality that the vagina is always the one to blame MUST END! Vaginas don’t need to provoke to be harassed or victimized!!

If a woman’s to blame for being harassed on the way she looks, well then, why don’t we implement the mandatory use of burkas as well?! NO! because that doesn’t solve the damn problem!

Why not?! Because it’s not a woman’s fault if someone can’t control themselves!

“The vagina made me do it!”, cause you know, women have that hypnotic power that cause men to do whatever she wants, including raping and brutalizing her! Of course! It’s every girl dream! Isn’t it??

If a guy has his shirt off and a girl is all over him she’s the slut. If a girl

Mainstream seems to in some sort of way to idolize men-whores, “oh he’s such a stud” or “oh, he’s such a MAN” (ew)! Girls, are just depreciative sluts and whores. WHY?! Am I the only one who sees something wrong with this?? Either we call everyone a dirty whore, woman or man, or we admire and swoon over all of them regardless of gender. Am I the only one to think this is fair?

How can people fight for equality and still judge based on these archaic standards?!

I’m revolted.

(credit: photo by weglet)

Courage to live.

Courage to speak.

Courage to fight.

- Women need to be the first to fight for themselves and each other!

Why are we so quick to blame the mistress?
Why are women so quick to blame themselves?
Why are we so quick use the word slut or bitch?

Why do we blame it on the victim?
- No matter the circumstances, nothing justifies violence of any sort.

Why are we so quick to accept things like: “Women are manipulative”?
- That’s wrong! People are manipulative, not just women.

- Men are responsible for them selves and for the choices they make. They aren’t children!

Why must women be perfect? Why are women demanded perfection?
Why can’t women be forgiven by their flaws as much as men are?

Why must women sacrifice themselves?

Why can’t women choose?

Why must women must be a certain way to be accepted?

Why do we still live by such old/archaic notion of gender?

Enough!