The Sexual Assault Revolution: when the victims take the power
It’s overwhelming to see the number of people—both men and women—who are now coming forth and sharing their stories about unwelcome sexual advances of the high powered politicians and Hollywood moguls for decades upon decades.
And it’s also infuriating to see the victims of these crimes being blamed, or questioned for their motives (citing financial gain through legal retaliation.) It’s inexcusable for people to question why they took so long to come forward with their stories. The answer is simple: they now know that they are no longer alone.
Can you imagine how much COURAGE it must take to step forward and share these stories?
Can you imagine wanting to free yourself from the shame, from the humiliation, from the fear, and from the doubts you have struggled with over the years as you questioned your own actions and felt as if you were, even partially, to blame? Was it the way that I dressed? Was it something I said? Was it something I did? Did I have a little too much to drink? Is this just the way Hollywood or politics work? Will I lose my job, my chance at the career I’ve worked so hard toward? Will I be blackballed from future jobs?
Can you imagine the diminished self-worth that results from bearing this shame for years, even decades?
What we are seeing on social media and in the press is precisely the reason the victims of sexual assault don’t come forward, and why many of those guilty of assault never pay for their crimes as a result. No one should be immune from prosecution for such, no matter how high powered or wealthy or politically connected.
To those who are guilty of blaming the victims or questioning their motives, SHAME ON YOU.
If it was your mother, your sister, your brother, your daughter, your son, would you behave the same way? Or would you stand beside them and support them and encourage them to share their truths?
Will there be some who attempt to take advantage of this movement and feign being victims? Possibly. But the number of those who do will pale by comparison to that of the victims of these crimes. So unless you’ve walked in their shoes, unless you, personally, have irrefutable evidence that the victim is lying, you have no right to question his or her motives. We have a justice system that will—hopefully—bring justice.
To the many who have finally garnered the strength to come forward, I applaud you. And I stand with you.
You’re about to change the way things have been, the way things are and the way things will work going forward. Your actions will spare countless others from becoming victims. And it’s way overdue.
