What To Do When Someone Approaches to Tell You About Sexual Assault or Abuse
Start with ‘This is terrible. I am so sorry to hear that this happened to you.’ Or some variation on this phrasing. It’s important to emphasize that you recognise this thing that you are being told about as a wrong. And that you recognise that this wrong happened to the person you are talking to.
Follow with ‘Is there anything I can do to help?’ ETA: It’s worth noting that this framing can be problematic, because it can put pressure on the person, who may feel an obligation to come up with something for you to do. You can say ‘I’m here to help,’ or ‘I’m here to listen, if you like.’ (end edit)
And stop right there.
Right. There.
That is all you need to say. What this person needs from you right now, what this person is asking for by coming forward, whether it’s talking about a molestation that occurred 30 years ago or a phone call in the middle of the night asking for a ride home from a party, is your support. Is your unconditional love. Is a reinforcement that yes, this happened, and it was wrong and awful and horrible and not the victim’s fault. It should not have happened. And you are in this person’s court. You are there. You are listening.
-
christianitype liked this
-
kylie-forever liked this
-
tittytap liked this
-
mollypeck liked this
-
tina180 liked this
-
therealkatiewest liked this
-
mynameisabi liked this
-
eversonpoe reblogged this from lilac-hour
-
vicieuse liked this
-
pizzamia reblogged this from lilac-hour
-
gaspundkiss liked this
-
lilac-hour reblogged this from fuckyeahfeminists
-
thewaterthemountains reblogged this from flapjackstate and added:
This is a good place to start.
-
noranori liked this
-
everytwominutes reblogged this from msusaci
-
makeitthroughthis liked this
-
crystalectomy reblogged this from fuckyeahfeminists
-
socialworky reblogged this from fuckyeahfeminists and added:
What To Do When Someone Approaches to Tell You About Sexual Assault or Abuse...Start with...
-
digitalmeowmix liked this
-
beautyandthebeast liked this
-
fey-bear liked this
-
videogameheart reblogged this from fuckyeahfeminists
-
fughawzi liked this
-
ribenaandxmas reblogged this from fuckyeahfeminists
-
justahappykid liked this
-
featherandarrow liked this
-
landlessness liked this
-
sententiola liked this
-
gurlichangedmyurl liked this
-
hugalittlelonger liked this
-
silvershrike liked this
-
comicism liked this
-
somesortalefty liked this
-
doctorconquest liked this
-
radicaltigger liked this
-
physicsrules liked this
-
sirs-littleone liked this
-
jazminesayshello reblogged this from fuckyeahfeminists and added:
I want to print this out and stick this everywhere.
-
note-a-bear reblogged this from thatfeministwithglasses
-
thatfeministwithglasses reblogged this from flapjackstate
-
videogameheart liked this
-
mooochelle liked this
-
alwaysandstrawberryshakes reblogged this from fuckyeahfeminists
-
19-cilmaengwyn liked this
-
lionessyawn reblogged this from fuckyeahfeminists and added:
This. skinmemories | What To Do When Someone Approaches to Tell You About Sexual Assault or Abuse
-
sinspirationhell reblogged this from flapjackstate
-
flapjackstate reblogged this from glass-onion-
-
theraptorwhomurderedlove reblogged this from fuckyeahfeminists and added:
This to the Nth degree. And one thing that...to add; don’t tell them that they’re lucky....
-
glass-onion- reblogged this from fuckyeahfeminists
-
esmeweatherwax reblogged this from fuckyeahfeminists and added:
done with this last month! It took me by surprise when one of the girls I know approached me.
- Show more notes
