Any Girl by Mia D?ring

From the outside looking in, the young life of Mia D?ring 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 16, 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 24. In her 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.