Book of the Week: We Need to Talk

We Need to Talk is a poetry collection on sexual violence, survivorship and solidarity. On gender-based violence and genuine social change. On things that are hushed and need to be spoken of with empathy - and fact-checking.

Poet Agnes Török writes honestly and courageously about lived experience and statistical societal structure, inviting the reader to reflect and join in the conversation on how to end gender-based violence. With sections speaking directly to victims and survivors, and directly to their friends and families, We Need To Talk is an empathic engagement with an experience shared by 1 in 3 women, 1 in 2 trans and non-binary people, and 1 in 5 men – sexual violence.

Török discusses issues surrounding the normalisation of violence through economics, politics and online activity, and challenges the logic by which most of us personally know a victim of sexual assault or abuse, but few of us will believe we know any perpetrators.

Writing exercises for those affected by gender-based violence are also included, because making art is a form of speaking. And We Need To Talk.

You can buy We Need to Talk here