Someday Mija, You'll Learn the Difference Between a Whore and a Working Woman: A Memoir

Someday Mija, You'll Learn the Difference Between a Whore and a Working Woman is a memoir that explores the author's journey of resilience and advocacy after facing transgenerational trauma. It highlights the author's discovery of her grandmother's history as a sex worker and her own experiences of abuse.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 18 October 2022
Publisher: She Writes Press

At the age of eighteen, Yvonne Martinez finds herself escaping a violent and abusive home environment. In a moment of desperation, she turns to her grandmother, a woman who has a past as a sex worker. As her grandmother nears the end of her life, she shares profound family secrets and imparts her unique wisdom. With her last words, she tells Yvonne, "Someday, Mija, you will learn the difference between a whore and a working woman."

Her grandmother also reveals a dark chapter of their family's history, revealing that Yvonne's great-grandmother, Yvonne's mother, had trafficked her as a child during the Depression-era in Utah. Yvonne is left grappling with the painful realization that she has been blamed for her own rape.

Over the years, Yvonne embarks on a journey of healing and growth. She pursues an education and builds a family of her own. Through her healing process, she becomes an advocate and labor activist, drawing upon her grandmother's teachings to fight for herself and empower others.

Yvonne's memoir is a powerful exploration of transgenerational trauma and resilience. She uses her grandmother's dictum, "not to whore herself out," as a guiding principle in her fight against sexual harassment and corruption in the labor unions where she works. Her story is intense, but ultimately uplifting, demonstrating how trauma can be transformed into post-traumatic growth and how individuals can overcome adversity to make a positive impact on the world.

Weight: 342g
Dimension: 140 x 215 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781647421021