Breathing In Water by Gracie West

Author:Gracie West [West, Gracie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Independent
Published: 2020-02-13T22:00:00+00:00

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River and Jules made their way back to Nacho Mamas. Their stomachs punished them for the delay. They sat down and ordered as quickly as possible and ate all the chips and salsa within five minutes after taking their seats. They talked about Penny for a while and River used the phrase “women’s issues” when discussing the effects of trauma.

“Trauma ain’t just a woman’s issue,” Jules pointed out.

“Yeah, but women are victims of violence more often, statistically.”

“Actually, men are victims of violence more often than women. And men make up half domestic violence cases. Plus, they don’t have shelters like women do.”

“That is not true! Men are not half of DV cases.”

“They sure are! Forty-something percent. I know my stats, Riv. I’m a nurse, ya know?”

“You’re seriously trying to tell me that women assault men as often as men assault women?”

“I did not say that! Men are assaulted by other men, mostly. But some are assaulted by women and no one talks about that. Everyone says domestic violence a ‘woman’s issue’ but I see guys in the ER all the time for this. And, by the way, ain’t nowhere to send ‘em except back home. When’s the last time you heard of a men’s shelter?”

River was bothered that she couldn’t remember the DV statistics she’d learned in her Women’s Studies class years ago. But she knew the percentages were dramatically different from Jules’. She couldn’t skillfully argue this point but she continued the debate anyway, “Well, there’s no way men are even close to half of rape victims.”

“True. Women are raped more often. But when men are raped, they don’t go ‘round talkin’ about it, do they? So, who knows what the actual stats are? I’m just sayin’, violence is a man’s issue, too.”

It was hard for River to tolerate Jules advocating for men when it seemed true that women were the overwhelming majority of victims. “Well, you can’t fault feminists for working on women’s issues, Jules.”

“Feminists! Ha! You know what I hate about them?”

“Oh, here we go,” River mumbled.

“They act like they represent women ‘n they don’t even represent half of us! They’re waving their cardboard signs around, actin’ like they speak for me. I don’t remember votin’ for ‘em! Do you?”

“Of course, they represent women, Jules!”

“Okay, fine. They represent women. Except for ALL the women they don’t, which is most!”

“Oh, my God!” River’s hands covered her face.

“Feminists downright hate some women, especially ones like me. They’re like, ‘Y’all don’t know what you want. Y’all don’t know what’s good for you, Y’all are workin’ against your best interest.’ They don’t know my interest! Like, if you’re pro-life they revoke your woman-card. Or if you stay home to raise your kids, they attack you. So much for sisterhood! They’re probably just jealous ‘cause some women found good men to depend on.”

“Depending on men is dangerous, Jules. Even a good man can change. Plus, who got you the right to vote pro-life? Feminists!” River said, smugly.

“Feminist wasn’t even a word when women were workin’ on getting the vote.

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