“Ginny and Georgia” is a popular movie series on Netflix that explores the complexities of mother-daughter relationships and intergenerational trauma, while also shedding light on different issues surrounding self-harm, childhood trauma, and mental health struggles.

Ginny, the daughter of Georgia, usually expresses her struggles through beautifully written poems. One of her most popular poems is called “Monster.” In this poem, she explores her complex emotions and the internal chaos that persists as she carries the burden of her mom’s past.

Georgia is a woman who suffers from a traumatic past. She was abused by her father at a young age, which forced her to run away from home. This event eventually led to her being involved in illegal activities and having unstable romantic relationships. Furthermore, to survive, she built her life around deceptions and lies. Her response to trauma eventually affects her daughter’s life. Ginny was raised in an unstable childhood because they always moved from one place to another, as her mom was financially unstable, remarried many times, and committed a lot of unseen crimes.

“My hands wet, once clean

dirty with sins I don’t mean

words I didn’t say, dragons I didn’t slay

I inherit the sin

And I become the monster that I was born from…”

In this verse, her fear of becoming like her mother is emphasized. She writes that she inherits the sins she did not commit, as they were all passed down from her mom.

“Am I too old to hide under the bed?

I’m stuck in a storm

But the storm’s in my head”

This verse in her poem emphasizes her fear and internal turmoil. Throughout the movie, Ginny experiences self-harm and an inability to sleep. This is formed through the underlying trauma of her unstable childhood, complex relationship with her mother, and difficulty maintaining friendships. Therefore, the fear and the “storm” in her head might have been manifested due to those circumstances.

The poem that Ginny wrote highlights her complicated relationship and feelings toward her mother. Furthermore, it also shows how the mother’s traumatic past and coping mechanisms can silently affect her daughter despite efforts made to shelter her from living the same life. This poem illustrates how intergenerational trauma can be passed down and how it can affect the bond between the parent and the child.

The movie series can be streamed on Netflix. You can watch the clip of Ginny performing the poem here.

Image Credit: Brianne Howey and Antonia Gentry in Ginny & Georgia (2021) on Netflix.