What It's Like To Be A Girl In The City by Karen Crawford

7/30/2022

What It's Like To Be A Girl In The City by Karen Crawford

Gerard Untalan CC

What It's Like To Be A Girl In The City

They stand on corners. Twos, threes, sometimes four. They crack open beer in paper bags.

A simmering thirst fermenting on their tongues. They whistle, they hoot. Lips wet with one-upmanship. Hey, sweetheart, where you going? What’s your hurry? Damn... I mean, dammmm, what I would do to you. C’mon, baby gimme a smile. Are you legal? Which one of you wants to get pregnant today?

We keep walking. Me; eyes down, hands in pockets. My sister; flipping her Charlie’s Angel hair before flipping them off. Before we pick up the pace. Before I grab her hand and we cross the street.

They hang on stoops. Twos, threes, sometimes more. In white beaters casting dark shadows. Kool Kings’s between their fingers. Dirt beneath the nails. They hiss, they snarl. Fangs sharp with ragged edges. Stuck up bitches, ugly skank ho, skinny ass couldn’t get arrested in those shorts. Why don’t you try men? Chicks like you need straightening out.

We keep walking. They follow right behind. Me; shoulders straight, eyes straighter. My sister; holding herself tight to keep from retching.

Karen Crawford grew up in the vibrant neighborhood of East Harlem in New York City. She currently lives in the City of Angels, where she exorcises demons one word at a time. Her work has been published in Potato Soup Journal, Rejection Letters, A Thin Slice of Anxiety, Unfortunately, Literary among others. You can find her on twitter @KarenCrawford_

Curtis

8/1/2022 02:43:52 pm

Vivid slice of what it is like to be a girl and grow up on the streets of NYC. Very compelling.

TRETierney

8/2/2022 09:42:35 am

OUCH! I hated when I’d see these despicable un-gentlemen do this to girls! Hope it got better when you moved downtown, but probably not cause straight men acting like pigs (Hello Supreme Court!) are still everywhere. You and Liza were so beautifully created by your mom, dad and God.
Once in 1981 in the East Village after a night at the St. Marks Bathhouse, I was walking to my home Westbeth in the West Village whilst eating a banana for more protein. A somewhat pretty prostitute propositioned me whilst I was practically hop skotching over the used condoms and needles on the street. Told her “Sorry, sweetie, but I’m gay.” Her response was “Dat’s okay banana boy! I could fix that!” This young fruit nearly choked on that fruit with a huge guffaw!

Liza Ramirez

8/2/2022 11:19:56 am

I felt the anger growing as you shared the disgustingness endured upon you as a young woman. Ugh, it’s infuriating!
Women are forced to put up with the unfathomable. I see here, my dear,… just how street smart you’ve had to educated yourself to become!
Ha, you’re well versed + a phenomenal writer too!
BAM 💥 My Queen 🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼
YES, to sharing these experiences + giving women a voice! This is POWERFUL 🗽🗽🗽
#womenempowerment
Great piece Karen Crawford 🏆🏆🏆

Max Eisenberg

8/2/2022 06:05:55 pm

You capture those moments beautifully. We'll-done again!

Roland Elliott

8/5/2022 07:51:38 pm

Growing up in East Harlem, I witnessed what girls had to put up with from Neanderthals like those in your piece. Even then I wondered, did they really think that would result in a score? Would they act the same toward their sisters? Great short piece, Karen

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