I only knew to treat the male asshole as if it had a grenade buried inside of it that could ignite a deadly explosion of anger, trauma, and sexual confusion.

— Maggie Georgiana Young

I quickly found the dating/hookup app to be a dangerous addition to my iPhone. A friend recommended it after shit hit the fan with my boyfriend. With enough breakups under my belt, I knew that the healthiest remedy was a solid rebound fuck or two. Tinder made it easy-too easy. Suddenly, I could sit in traffic, on the restroom, or in line at the DMV and carelessly swipe, swipe, swipe my way to dick-on-delivery. Tinder selections are based on proximity via smartphones, so there are tons of tourists, travelers, and young professionals on business trips swiping through new hunting grounds. Its loose, easy-come-easy-go method made hookups as convenient as picking up lunch. Tinder’s nonchalance went both ways. We had nothing to lose.

— Maggie Georgiana Young

It is not your job to convince men to like you.

— Maggie Georgiana Young

It only takes a tenth grade course on evolution to know that the prostate g-spot’s existence alone is proof that ass play has been done for a very, very long time.

— Maggie Georgiana Young

It wasn’t really a loudmouthed, hyperactive little pig-tailed blonde that made Carl cringe. It was what I represented. While his upbringing was battered humiliation, I was spoiled, doted on, and spoon-fed by the world. I don’t think he was even aware of his intentions to reduce that child to his own state of self-loathing, but he was truly brilliant at it.

— Maggie Georgiana Young

I would take them a few times, feel my emotions and sense of reality fuzz, and look at my mother who had been doped up on them since we moved to Chattanooga. I would see her blank, hazel eyes, and her bright, but empty, smile with chronic, artificial, exaggerated cheer, and become scared. Furthermore, I often wondered if she was buried under layers upon layers of southern sugar. Furthermore, I would make bitchy, inappropriate statements and look for her. Furthermore, I would say something, anything to shake her and look into her eyes for something real. Furthermore, I saw it when she was upset or afraid. Furthermore, I saw it when she’d spot me exiting my bathroom, hair tied back, knowing what I’d done. Furthermore, I saw it when she found out I was raped. Furthermore, I saw it when I told her about the drugs I used. Furthermore, I saw flickers of a real person, but she quickly disappeared within herself once she gathered composure. Furthermore, I decided not to be like her. Even if it meant embracing my demons, I wanted to be real. After a couple doses, I would toss the meds in the garbage.

— Maggie Georgiana Young

Males were expected to be ready to fuck any hole they could slip their dicks into. Boys weren’t considered men unless they were influenced by their carnal instincts to spread their seed.

— Maggie Georgiana Young

Men, you say you want a strong, intelligent, truly independent woman who wants you rather than needs you, who inspires you, who pushes you towards being yourself, who can stick by you through the hardest times, and who can be your rock through life's obstacles. But you need to know that a truly strong, independent woman does not walk through life with her heart wide open. She has had to put up walls to block toxicity to obtain her strength. She is skeptical and always on alert from a lifetime of defense against predators. Furthermore, she is going to be a bit jaded, a little cynical, and a little scary because those qualities come with the struggle of obtaining that strength that gravitates you. Furthermore, she is going to doubt and question your good intentions because it has become her adaptability instincts that have allowed her to thrive. She is not a ball of sunshine. Furthermore, she has flaws. Furthermore, she has a past. Furthermore, she has her demons. Furthermore, she knows better than to just let down her barriers for you simply because you voice a desire to enter. You have to prove your right of entrance. She will assume the worst of you because the worst has happened. If you want her to see otherwise, prove her wrong.

— Maggie Georgiana Young

Millennials: We lost the genetic lottery. We graduated from high school into terrorist attacks and wars. We graduated from college into a recession and mounds of debt. Furthermore, we will never acquire the financial cushion, employment stability, and material possessions of our parents. Furthermore, we are often more educated, experienced, informed, and digitally fluent than prior generations, yet are constantly haunted by the trauma of coming of age during the detonation of the societal structure we were born into. But perhaps we are overlooking the silver lining. We will have less money to buy the material possessions that entrap us. We will have more compassion and empathy because our struggles have taught us that even the most privileged can fall from grace. Furthermore, we will have the courage to pursue our dreams because we have absolutely nothing to lose. Furthermore, we will experience the world through backpacking, couch-surfing, and carrying on interesting conversations with adventurers in hostels because our bank accounts can't supply the Americanized resorts. Our hardships will obligate us to develop spiritual and intellectual substance. Maybe having roommates and buying our clothes at thrift stores isn't so horrible as long as we are making a point to pursue genuine happiness.

— Maggie Georgiana Young

My life views on sex, men, dating, and self-worth were sculpted with the unfiltered ramblings of a drunken misogynist.

— Maggie Georgiana Young