“The first act of violence that patriarchy demands of males is not violence toward women. Instead patriarchy demands of all males that they engage in acts of psychic self-mutilation, that they kill off the emotional parts of themselves. If an individual is not successful in emotionally crippling himself, he can count on patriarchal men to enact rituals of power that will assault his self-esteem.”
| — | bell hooks |
Charissa's Grace Notes 
Painful to read.
it’s happened to each man that we love.
i was present in the happening…and fortunate that when the blade made for those parts in me there was nothing there, so I am like a line from a bad novel now…
“…and I alone survived…”