We've Got Some Things to Say: Reshaping Narratives Around Sexual Violence (Survivors? Voices: Documenting the Ways that Violence Shapes the Lives of Women and Children)

We’ve Got Some Things to Say: Reshaping Narratives Around Sexual Violence begins with a simple but profound mission: giving survivors back their stories, in their own words. Building on the work of We’ve Been Put Through Fire & Come Out Divine: Stories of Hope & Survival, this anthology tackles some of the harmful societal questions and myths that silence and shame survivors, confronting the thinly veiled accusations that lie behind questions such as "What were you wearing?" and "Had you been drinking?" It also sheds light on how survivors often face a second trauma—society's judgment and blame—on top of the violence they’ve already suffered.

With raw vulnerability and unflinching clarity, these writers transform their trauma into compelling narratives, using their words to challenge social and cultural assumptions and advocate for change. These pieces don’t just recount pain—they explore the complex paths toward healing, resilience, and reclaiming voice. We’ve Got Some Things to Say invites readers to bear witness and reflect, calling for societal accountability and demanding collective attention to sexual violence and the many victim-blaming narratives that perpetuate and surround it.

Mary Simmerling is a poet, scholar, and activist with a Ph.D. in Philosophy and an MA in Psychology. She is an Affiliate and Board Member of Amherst Writers & Artists (AWA), as well as a member of End Violence Against Women International (EVAWI), Immigrant Women's Services Ottawa (IWSO), Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network's (RAINN) National Leadership Council, and the League of Canadian Poets. Mary leads writing workshops for survivors of sexual violence and those who care for them. Her poem, "What I Was Wearing," has inspired international exhibits empowering survivors to reclaim their stories and challenge victim-blaming myths around sexual violence. Inspired by the work of AWA founder Pat Schneider, Mary recently established Write Where We Belong Press to give voice to stories that might not otherwise be heard.