Sexual violence does not happen in a vacuum and victims do not suffer in a vacuum. First, a perpetrator commits an unspeakable act, then individuals and organizations embolden perpetrators & discredit the victim by creating an alternate narrative of disbelief and doubt.
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Quotes tagged ‘sexual victims’
My hope is that we create a world where it is safe and comfortable to disclose sexual violence. But that cannot happen as long as organizations & individuals enable perpetrators at the expense of survivors -- past, present & future.
Let me make this simple: If you hear about sexual violence and your reaction is to impugn the survivor's character and make baseless assumptions about the victim's motives, you're doing it wrong.
Our work is about supporting survivors by providing resources for healing and action. If in the course of that process a perpetrator is held accountable for their actions - so be it. But our goal is not to ‘take down’ individuals it’s to dismantle systems that give them cover.
Women have been speaking up for years about harassment and abuse. 'Me Too' has just created cover for those who didn’t feel safe enough to speak up. The movement didn’t *create* the concept of speaking out. it just allowed people to hear us better as a chorus and not a solo.
Too many survivors try to report, but are ignored, invalidated, or even attacked by people in a position to help. That response sends the message that abuse is not a big deal, which is sometimes easier to believe than facing the true horror of sexual violence.
Perpetrators are the real criminals, yet survivors often feel as if they have done something wrong, burdened by a sense of shame and the horrors of their past. If you feel that way, know that none of this is your fault.