Any Girl by Mia Döring
Synopsis
'It became untenable for me to remain silent about a part of my life I had long kept secret. I had to follow the persistent, uncomfortable pull of truth, wherever it would lead me.'
From the outside looking in, the young life of Mia Döring seemed unremarkable, as she pursued her studies at a prominent Dublin art college, immersed in a vibrant social scene. Unbeknownst to those around her, however, Mia's life was anything but ordinary.
At age sixteen, she had been sexually exploited by an older man, which carved a direct path into the Irish sex trade, where she remained for several years until finally leaving it behind over a decade ago, at age twenty-four.
In her literary memoir Mia, a psychotherapist specialising in sexual trauma, excavates her difficult history as she sets about integrating her past with her present-day life. Along the way, she presents an ardent and intelligent refutation of a culture that affirms and applauds the industrialised sexual violation of women and girls, ultimately offering something more precious - a way forward for society bedded in true understanding and compassion.
Any Girl is a ferociously honest, intensely tender and utterly unforgettable book that is as thought-provoking as it is timely.
Reviews
'Döring’s courage and psychotherapeutic insight are immensely valuable, and this raw and vulnerable testimony shines a light on the complex ways in which sexual violence can devastate a life.' Carol Ballantine
'That Döring has the lyrical ability to capture the magnitude of this experience, the intricacy of trauma recovery and the hopelessness of this social injustice is a mere bonus.' Tanya Sweeney
About the Author
Mia Döring is a writer and psychotherapist specialising in sexual trauma. She lives and works in Dublin. Her essays, fiction and articles have been published in Litro Magazine, The Bohemyth, Ropes Journal and Huffington Post. Any Girl is her first book.