Tonight, in between teaching classes and selling and marketing at the business, I was online with two other local feminist leaders counseling a local man who was unsure what to do with a female friend of his who was sexually assaulted last night. He wanted to help her, and so did we.
And that was giving her space to her own self-determination. She will be going to a clinic so she can be tested for STDs, and we have been offering referrals to local rape crisis centers so she has the opportunity to have legal, medical, and psychological resources at her fingertips. We're still in contact, and probably will be checking in for the next 24 hours to see how this woman is doing.
The last few days has been very difficult for me, engaging in a topic that brings back the really truly ugly memories of being sexually assaulted. Today was the most difficult, and I was initially considering taking a bit of a break to stay away from conversations focusing on events that were similar to what was a time where I feared for my life.
Something happened, though, when I and other volunteers came together to help someone in need. It's not the first time I've volunteered in this capacity, but this was different today..... It's that no matter what happened to me personally in the past, it need not be in vain. I can do something. I can offer help. I have a voice, and I can use it.
There's another thread in this forum about feminist activism. I put it there as a way of allowing all of us that we can take action, no matter how great or how small you might consider the action to be. As of late, in addition to my latest tiny epiphany-reminder about my own voice, what has also helped is that you all have your own voices. We are not alone.
Educate.
Speak up.
Write to our congresspeople.
Teach our young about respect, consent, and gender equality.
Speak up.
Vote.
Speak up some more.
I will offer updates on the woman's condition and how she's doing. Right now, she is still in shock and experiencing enormous shame and guilt.
I want her to feel safe.
And that was giving her space to her own self-determination. She will be going to a clinic so she can be tested for STDs, and we have been offering referrals to local rape crisis centers so she has the opportunity to have legal, medical, and psychological resources at her fingertips. We're still in contact, and probably will be checking in for the next 24 hours to see how this woman is doing.
The last few days has been very difficult for me, engaging in a topic that brings back the really truly ugly memories of being sexually assaulted. Today was the most difficult, and I was initially considering taking a bit of a break to stay away from conversations focusing on events that were similar to what was a time where I feared for my life.
Something happened, though, when I and other volunteers came together to help someone in need. It's not the first time I've volunteered in this capacity, but this was different today..... It's that no matter what happened to me personally in the past, it need not be in vain. I can do something. I can offer help. I have a voice, and I can use it.
There's another thread in this forum about feminist activism. I put it there as a way of allowing all of us that we can take action, no matter how great or how small you might consider the action to be. As of late, in addition to my latest tiny epiphany-reminder about my own voice, what has also helped is that you all have your own voices. We are not alone.
Educate.
Speak up.
Write to our congresspeople.
Teach our young about respect, consent, and gender equality.
Speak up.
Vote.
Speak up some more.
I will offer updates on the woman's condition and how she's doing. Right now, she is still in shock and experiencing enormous shame and guilt.
I want her to feel safe.
