Post #27 - StrongHER Together: Behind the Book

Sex, relationships, mental health & the patriarchy affects us all. So why don’t we talk about them properly? A bare-all, refreshingly honest guide for young women, written by young women who are still figuring it all out too... Explore the story behind our StrongHER Together book.

When I was asked to write this book, I was really excited because it gave me the opportunity to talk about topics that I feel are so important for young women. From my own experience, there were so many things I wish I’d learned or read about when I was younger. I spent a lot of time thinking there was something wrong with me, or being too afraid to ask questions in case I was judged for not knowing. So it felt really special to be asked to create something that could have an impact — and also feels personal to me.

I learned so much while researching for this book — far more than I expected. It was a great experience for my own learning, but at the same time, it was really disheartening to be confronted with just how prevalent sexual violence and abuse still are in the UK, and how often the system fails to hold people accountable or provide the resources needed for real, systemic change. Victim blaming is still a huge issue, and it made me realise how important it is to have resources like this that remind girls and young women that what’s happened to them is never their fault. It also made me reflect on how poor my own sex education had been — and how much I was only learning now, in my mid-20s. It highlighted the desperate need for proper, inclusive, and honest sex education in this country — one that covers consent, the realities and dangers of porn, female pleasure, and healthy relationships, instead of just how to put a condom on and what a period is.

I wanted this book to feel warm and engaging, like it had been written by an older sister-type figure — someone who gets it. At the same time, I wanted it to be comprehensive, covering a wide range of topics and acting as a kind of one-stop-shop for anything that might be important for girls growing up in this day and age. At the end of each chapter, there are reflective sections to give you space to connect what you’ve read to your own experiences. I hope that makes it feel a little more personal, relatable, and engaging.

There’s no right or wrong way to use this book. You can dip in and out, look something up when you need it, or work your way through it at your own pace. The most important thing is that it feels safe, comfortable, and understanding. Some of the topics are heavy, and it’s okay to take your time with them.

Even though this book is written from the perspective of a young woman and targeted towards girls and young women, it’s for everyone. In fact, I think it’s just as important for other people to read it too — to better understand some of the issues and experiences faced by young women today. So whoever you are, you’re welcome to pick it up.

I really hope it’s engaging, educational, and — most importantly — makes you feel heard, understood, and a little less alone in whatever you might be going through. Navigating growing up can be really tough sometimes, and if this book makes that even a little bit easier for someone, then it’s done what I hoped it would.

Explore our StrongHER Together Book.

-Your StrongHER Together Sister