“I not only saw George Tyndall for an exam; I was sexually assaulted during that exam—thousands of us were. … Unraveling the narrative I built to protect myself is a slow, and oftentimes, painful process. It is the most important work of my life. I deserve the space I take up, in fact, I always have. I know it now, deep in my bones. I deserve to be here. We all do.”
Tag: Rape Culture
Why I Wrote a YA Novel About Sexual Assault
I want this book to be a rallying cry. It’s the book I wish I’d read when I was 14 and hurt by Tim Coyne’s bizarre violence, or when I was 18 and humiliated by a gang of sexual bullies in the dining hall.
College Students Are Still Being Raped During the COVID-19 Shutdown: How Prevention and Response Mechanisms Must Adapt
The pandemic is increasing many of the environmental and social conditions that facilitate sexual assault. In this context, campus administrators must take concrete steps to protect vulnerable students—grounded in the abundance of evidence that reveals what works.
We Help Child Sex Abuse Survivors Break Their Silence When We Show Them Support
As a 12-year-old victim of sexual abuse, I needed more than just access. I also needed the support of my community, my friends and my family.
The Ms. Q&A: Alejandra Y. Castillo on Combating Domestic Violence During the COVID-19 Epidemic
Vast numbers of people across the country are being told to stay home. But experts warn this will lead to an increase of domestic abuse occurring within households. We spoke to Alejandra Y. Castillo, CEO of the YWCA USA, about the impact this virus is having on households across the U.S. and the ways we can all help protect those who are most vulnerable to domestic abuse during this time of self-quarantining and self-isolation.
Harvey Weinstein’s Verdict is a Victory. But Is It Enough to Open Our Eyes to the Epidemic of Sexual Assault?
Harvey Weinstein’s conviction is a step in the right direction, but it took powerful, well-resourced women to take down Mr. Weinstein. In order to end the epidemic of sexual violence, we need to invest in research and to support all survivors by creating evidence-based programs to help them to lead full, healthy lives.
Our Bodies, Our Hell: How Modern American Sexism Weaponizes Women’s Bodies
Although we cannot separate ourselves from our own culturally-limiting, physical embodiments of “female,” we can reveal, reject and resist every sexist misappropriation of ourselves. We can create a world for our daughters where female bodies no longer subject them to a gendered hell, but where all women reclaim their bodies for themselves.
Harvey Weinstein Sentenced to 23 Years for Rape and Assault; Feminists and Survivors Rejoice
Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was sentenced on Wednesday to 23 years in prison for rape and sexual assault. the two primary accusers in the case, were present in the New York courtroom. As the two primary accusers in the case exited the room, attendees in the audience applauded them. This celebratory atmosphere extended beyond the courtroom to the online sphere.
Un Violador En Tu Camino: The Song That Made Transnational Feminism Go Viral
The feminist anthem has been performed in Spanish by women in contrasting racialized urban and less urbanized Latin American spaces, mestizo as well as indigenous, either in Oaxaca or the Amazonian. Spain and other European countries, as well as Australia and New Zealand have witnessed the same orchestrating of the now popular feminist protest; in the United States, events at the Brooklyn Bridge, the LACMA in Los Angeles, and on some campuses such as Penn and UT Austin have taken place.
Harvey Weinstein’s Case Relies on Weaponizing the Effects of Trauma
Weinstein’s trial is a perfect example of the ways we continue to doubt victims who have suffered “disorganizing consequences,” and why we still have so far to go.