Note from The Author

When I first started writing He Said What?!, I wasn’t sure if I was ready to relive the moments that made me cringe, laugh in disbelief, or—more often than not—burn with frustration. But the more I reflected on my experiences, the more I realized this book wasn’t just something I wanted to write—it was something I had to write.

As the founder of BAX, I’ve spent years advocating for women’s voices, and this book is an extension of that mission. It’s a collection of the most outrageous, appalling, and frankly, absurd things men (and sometimes women) have said in the workplace—some of them my own experiences, others gathered from brave women willing to share. These words, though often dismissed as “just jokes” or “harmless comments,” reveal a deeply ingrained culture that we can no longer afford to ignore.

This book is not about complaining—it’s about exposing. It’s about pulling back the curtain on the unspoken reality that so many of us endure, often with a forced smile or an awkward laugh. It’s about making sure that the next generation of women won’t have to nod along when they hear something degrading, but instead will feel empowered to challenge it. I want you to walk away from reading this book empowered to stand up for yourself and speak up.

With strength and solidarity,
Monica

Teaser:

Chapter One

HE SAID WHAT?!

AND SOME OF THE THINGS SHE SAID TOO!

by, Monica S. Blacker, Esq.

“Most of the Time I’m Talking to You, I’m Just Looking at Your Rack!” Cue the uncomfortable laughter. You might be thinking, “Ok, we are going to just jump right in here, into the deep!” And yes, we are. We aren’t going to dance around this nicely…we are going to talk about it, bring it out into the open. Sometimes it will be uncomfortable, to be honest, much of this might leave you feeling at little uneasy. You will most likely grin and not because something like this has happened to you, maybe too many times to count. Some of it you will find absolutely appalling, other things “he has said,” will shock you, anger you and maybe even impress you. The brass balls some of these men have (and some of the women too). If you haven’t figured it out yet, this book will be a little irreverent, but is meant to help you, the woman reading it, navigate the workplace that is still generally dominated by men.

But He Said What?! is not just my story—it’s our story.

That’s why I’m asking you to join me.

If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of an inappropriate comment, an unsolicited “compliment,” or a jaw-dropping remark that left you speechless, I want to hear from you. Your experiences deserve to be acknowledged, and together, we can create a conversation too loud to ignore.

Send your stories, your moments, your frustrations. Let’s make this book a testament to our collective resilience—and a catalyst for real change.