Dear men in children's and young adult publishing:
Right now all the women in kid lit are reading @anneursu's article, sitting with it, crying over it, taking breaks every few paragraphs, and reading it again.
Right now all the women in kid lit are reading @anneursu's article, sitting with it, crying over it, taking breaks every few paragraphs, and reading it again.
Right now, the women in kid lit are calling each other, emailing and texting, and saying, how have I been complicit? What do I need to change? How can I be better at protecting the women in this business?
Right now, women are soul searching and aching and figuring out how they can change.
Men of kid lit, what are you doing? Right now, what are you doing?
Men of kid lit, what are you doing? Right now, what are you doing?
Men of kid lit, here's what we need you to do.
1. read this article carefully and thoughtfully: medium.com/@anneursu_1017…
1. read this article carefully and thoughtfully: medium.com/@anneursu_1017…
2. sit with this article. Do not shake your head and say, that's too bad but I'm not the problem. Do not give yourself a pass. Women who have never harassed or hurt anyone aren't giving themselves a pass.
3. Take a deep, close look. Ask yourself, when was I complicit? When did I let a joke slide? When did I enable a predator? When did I make someone uncomfortable?
4. Make a plan. I'm dead serious, gentlemen. The mama bear in all the women you know is awake and mad as hell. And this is not time to let things slide. MAKE A PLAN. How will you behave? What will you do when you see something? WHAT WILL YOU DO?
5. If you're up for it, hey, share that plan. Be public, be vocal. No more head nodding. No more "that's too bad"ing. This is not a trend that will blow over. You need to FUNDAMENTALLY change how you behave and WHAT YOU WILL DO.
6. Everyone is welcome in kid lit except predators. You know we're a loving and forgiving group. But we need to protect the vulnerable. And we will. No one is getting a pass.
7. Join us. Be part of the change. We will welcome you and love you, you already know that. But know that from now on, it's going to take more energy on your part. More thought. Respect. Love. Care.
8. Listen to some women. Hey look, here's @whimsicallyours! A great place to start.
9. This conversation is just starting. It's not going away. Ever. Do not wait for it to blow over. Men in kid lit, women built this house. You are here by our grace. We let you in when we trust you. EARN IT.
10. (with God as my witness, men in kid lit, use your fancy awards and bestsellers to prey on women who are trying to make it in this business and I WILL COME FOR YOU. They are not sexual conquests. You are not a rockstar.)
