My daughter will not be me // Debi Gregory
I looked at my daughter one day, watched her face as she cried that nothing she does is ever right and I felt a raw emotion bubble inside me.
It’s been bubbling ever since…
Let me tell you something, people of the world!
I’ve choked on my words for long enough!
I’ve watched as a girl with all the energy, passion and open heart of a Disney fucking Princess has been quashed, silenced, slapped down, gaslighted and crushed into oblivion.
I’ve watched with barely suppressed outrage as that same girl is blamed, patronised to, punished, laughed at, bullied, shamed and stomped on while she’s put down for every single effort she made to make herself what everyone else wanted.
I’ve watched in ill-concealed contempt while the strength, empowerment and inspiration of a capable and loving young woman is belittled, scorned, dismissed and derided.
I’ve stood on the outside, looking in, as an innocent child was crumpled into believing she had no power, no talent, no autonomy, no voice, no rights.
Let me tell you something, people of the world!
I’ve choked on my words for long enough!
I’ve stood back powerless while all that was done to me!
I will not allow my daughter to become me.
This time I will not choke on my words.
This time I will not watch and I will not suppress my outrage.
This time I will not stand back and you will feel my contempt.
This time I will be on the inside and push you out.
She will be powerful
She will be passionate.
She will be open-hearted.
She will be strengthened.
She will be empowered.
She will be inspired.
She will have rights.
She will have autonomy.
She will have a voice.
I will not allow you to make my daughter into me and I will not stand by and make that powerless child you tried to control be me any longer.