Why write anonymously?

I wish I didn't have to.

There is nothing I’d love more than to live in a world where I could, as a woman, speak or write explicitly about my sexuality and desires without men¹ assuming this is an offer to be sexual with them, or people shaming me for any number of reasons. I’ve learned the hard way — multiple times — that this is not the world we currently live in.

I can’t wait for this to change! In the meantime, I intend to share very candid, often vulnerable accounts of events that occurred in real life, involving me and very real other humans. I have not asked their consent to write about what happened between us, and I may or may not in the future (for reasons I can explain in more detail if anyone’s interested).

And so for now, I will write anonymously, erring on the side of privacy for myself, my family, my friends, and my partners.² I’ll change names and other details that might identify specific people.

I’m excited to add to that pool of vulnerable, personal, dare-I-say necessary public writing. As an avid reader, this feels like a necessary and healthy act of reciprocity.

Still wet,

Sally

1. Not all men! blah blah etc

2. I do wonder how choosing to write anonymously reinforces the trends of silencing women and dismissing our experiences… argh.