“ Since my attack I have been candid and open with colleagues, friends, family and even the media (appearing on BBC as well as in the Washington Post) about my experiences. The reaction I seem to receive most often from people is that they or someone they know (friend, family member, partner, etc) has had a similar experience. I found that nearly every time I shared my experience with someone I realised with increasing horror that sex attacks on both women and men alike occur a lot more frequently than anyone would think. One evening a dear friend of mine suggested we compile stories of people all over the world to illustrate just how widespread and far-reaching sexual abuse/ assault really is. It can happen to anyone anywhere. I think that by speaking out candidly about my experience I have grown stronger and stronger and have hopefully shown others that there is no shame whatsoever in being the victim of a sexual assault or abuse. If anything I have felt empowered by coming forward and standing up to my attacker who will hopefully now think twice before accosting another drunken woman in London as well as the detective constable who will hopefully treat her cases with more humanity.
This is the first video story ever shared for The OurStories Project, and it comes from alum, Alana Fields, a warrior who shares how she has influenced and inspired others through advocacy as a survivor of rape and a supporter of LGBTQ issues.
“ I want to roar, I want to scream, I want to cry until I drown, I want my body to sweat and shake until life re-enters it. I just don’t know how. I want to grieve without wanting to self-harm, I want to grieve without memories of sexual torture getting in the way – hell, I want some kind of clean grief.
“This books is full of such strategies, most of them by women who are direct targets, a few by others in solidarity with them. They work. The fact is, the law does not have much experience with sexual harassment and women have a lot. Concerning sexual harassment, as much else, women have more to tell the law than the law has to tell women, and this book tells it.”
Idk if people can relate to this:
I don’t know how to describe how I feel anymore. I say things like “I’m stupid”, “It’s weird”, and “I am mad”. I feel like those are very accurate and to-the-point because I don’t want to elaborate on it. My emotions are weird lately: I cry when I don’t want to and when I want to cry, I can’t. :/
(submission)
“A few weeks ago, I finally felt brave enough to tell the man that sexually assaulted me to stop trying to contact me and to stay out of my life. It was the first time in my life that I felt truly brave and proud of myself.
Tonight, I saw him out in public. I was sitting in my car and he walked by. I didn’t feel scared. I felt confidant and brave and sure of myself. I drove off, not a single tear in my eyes, feeling better about myself than I ever have in my entire life.
I hope this gives someone else the hope to feel as brave as I do right now.”
two things i’ll never stop talking about
kissestokashmir:iamasurvivor:kissestokashmir:iamasurvivor:kissestokashmir:
1. my rape
2. my scars
until
1. rape is no longer an issue for any person anywhere on this earth
2. i don’t have to resort to desecrating my body to ask for help
I admire your courage. <3
Thank you so much for this. I can’t explain how much it means to me. :)
I know exactly how you feel too, but I don’t have the courage to speak out about them, except online. Which is one of the purposes of this blog.
We all go at our own pace, you know? It took me six months to even acknowledge that I had been raped, and that what had happened was not alright and not okay. I’m glad you have this blog. Also, I know it might sound insincere, coming from someone who is a virtual stranger, but I mean it when I say that if you ever want someone to talk to, I’m just on the other side of the intertubes.
My Rape Schedule
myvivavoce:novazembla:placidhips:lemdi:
via Women’s Glib
Last night I walked into the subway station and pulled out my wallet just as a train was pulling in. I scrambled to swipe my MetroCard and ran into the train as the doors were closing. Settling on a seat and tucking away my wallet, I slowly noticed that the car was empty except for me and a 35-ish-year-old man a few seat blocks over.My first thought: I should switch cars at the next station.
My next thought: But he doesn’t look dangerous. (What makes someone look dangerous?)
And then: Even if he doesn’t look dangerous, I still shouldn’t be here alone. What a terrible idea. What if something happens?
And then, as we sat in peaceful silence from station to station, I came to the best realization of all: We could sit here, alone, for days and days, and he would not rape me if he is not a rapist.
