#metoo
You are not alone. Together we can de-stigmatize speaking out about our experiences with sexual harassment, assault, and more.
Telling My Story
It all came to a head when I was 8 years old. The sexual abuse I had suffered for years was progressively getting worse. It started out rather innocently at first. My uncle cornered me more times than I can count while he was babysitting me. Sometimes when we were alone, he would grab me close to him and force me into a hug. He rubbed my bum in a circular motion that I came to despise. He said, "Come here and give your uncle a kiss.” I obeyed because I thought I had to. "Now give me a bigger one. Open your mouth,” he said as he pulled my head towards his.
Stacy DavenportPublished 4 years ago in VivaIts the price WE HAVE to pay I Don't Think So
Right now it doesn't matter if you are in the military or not, if you were ever sexually assaulted, molested, harassed or any way man handled in a way that you don't appreciate or you said no too; then you are my Battle. You are Vanessa Guillen's battle, because we have been there, I was just the unfortunate one to live.
Why I didn't speak out
February 2018, I was in the midst of a crisis. I was in an abusive relationship at the tender age of 17. Now a question you might ask is, why did you stay with him? Well, any woman that has been abused by a spouse, will say this. "I loved him".
Cheyenne HarrisonPublished 4 years ago in VivaFeminism
t.w. sexual assault When I was younger, I wanted to be a housewife when I grew up. I saw my mum lead a life which I saw as easy and enjoyable and jokingly said I'd shadow her for my school's Year 10 work experience week. It took me until I was a bit older to appreciate her vocation as a stay-at-home-mum as being her own choice and an admirable and often arduous task in its own right (my sister was a handful). To me, feminism is empowering and supporting other women's choices rather than ridiculing them and tearing them down. My mum is my inspiration and has worked extremely hard to help me get to where I am today, and people who judge her for not working, I believe, are missing the point of what it means to uplift other women. Feminism means to me the ability to choose and not be judged on the basis of gender.
Kate CharltonPublished 4 years ago in Viva#METOO
I want to start this out by saying, that this is my story. It was my biggest kept secret. I hid the truth of what really happened that night, because for a long time- I wasn't even sure it constituted as assault I suffered for months and pushed down, bottled up and allowed my attack to remain a silent joy stealer in my life. Even now, I still have flash backs, And I question it all the time.
Miquela WallacePublished 4 years ago in VivaSeven to Twenty-Five
The sexualization of my body began when I was seven years old. During second grade recess, three boys used to chase me around the playground until they were able to hold me down under the slide and kiss me as I struggled. I’m sure to 5 adults, it seemed like harmless fun, boys being boys. To me, it was unfair that not only was I overpowered by three dipshits, but no one else saw this behavior as an issue. Finally, I told my brother (who was nine by the way), and one day at recess, it just stopped. They were afraid of me. They began to run from me. A nine-year-old had done more for me in one day than five adults had done for the entirety of the wrestling and unwanted kissing. I was seven.
Jasmine TurnerPublished 4 years ago in VivaDenial is the Root of Suffering
It’s surprising what can affect your memory. It’s even more surprising what can trigger a memory coming back to light. My mental health has always been the cause for, what I assumed was, memory loss. I’m sure at least in part it is memory loss, however I have also had memories come back. I’ve created memories to be what I wanted them to be and have had the real deal slap me in the face out of nowhere. Filing through what is real and what I’ve stowed away so deep that I thought light would never touch it is an extremely difficult process. Reconciling that my past is far more haunting than I realized has been extremely difficult. The line between protecting yourself and healing is far thinner than I anticipated. Perhaps the line is imaginary because within healing is growth, within healing is protection.
Shae MorenoPublished 4 years ago in VivaBut Why
It had begun to feel like the love that she had always wanted. Every other guy before that always treated her like shit! So she was used to nobody really caring about her.
Jennifer CooleyPublished 4 years ago in VivaWhy Did You Wait So Long To Speak Out?
I understand that we are currently facing many challenges; however, I wanted to talk about an issue that has been weighing heavily on my mind. As the 2020 presidential race heats up, I feel the need to start a conversation regarding the sexual assault accusations against presidential nominee Joe Biden. I am not here to, nor will I, offer my opinion as to whether I believe he is guilty of the accusations. Individuals who are in support of Joe Biden, who also happen to be supporters of the #MeToo movement, have raised several legitimate issues against his accuser except for one. It is this issue that I want to address. Supporters of Biden, and under similar circumstances supporters of supreme justice Kavanaugh, appeared to doubt the truth behind the victim’s account due to the fact that they remained silent on the alleged attacks for several years. They claim to find it suspicious that the women are just now coming out with these accusations when the accused is seeking a position of importance and authority. With that being said, women’s right advocates have provided numerous explanations, all backed by scientific research, as to why a woman would remain silent. In some instances, it is because it happened during a time when women were not taken seriously. In others, it is due to fear of repercussions, being accused of making a false accusation, ostracization, humiliation, and so on. Perhaps they did speak up and were silenced by the accuser? These are but a few examples that need to be considered.
Stephanie HalePublished 4 years ago in VivaSexual Assault Allegations against the Biebs?
Well, we knew it was coming. More men in Hollywood are cancelled. But why? Multiple women have dropped twitter threads outlining, in specific detail, with verifiable facts, personal accounts of sexual assault, rape, and cover ups, not only against Justin Bieber, but Ansel Elgort and Chris D'Elia - ALL IN ONE WEEK.
Ally McleanPublished 4 years ago in VivaI’m A Survivor Not A Vitim
I was 5 years old when my grandmother’s oldest brother first sexually assaulted me. I was just a baby. I was about to be in the 1st grade. So it’s summer time. I’m running around having fun with my toys just bein a kid , my uncle is home watching me - as usual. I go to use the bathroom and handle my business , as I come out the bathroom my uncle comes into my room and try’s to touch me. Now, I’m a little girl but I’m very smart. Mommy always told me if someone touches your Special temple down there you fight them and get away. I always remembered that , my uncle puts his hands in my pants and say come here. I jumped up scared and said NO don’t touch me , I ran back into the bathroom and locked the door. After he left me alone and went to take a nap I leave the bathroom to go into the living room and try to stay calm and watch tv. He came into the living room and grabs me , puts me on the floor and tries to pry my legs open. I try so hard to push him away but it doesn’t work, Something deep inside tells me - USE YOUR LEGS USE YOUR LEGS - so I kick him. I get up and run into my mommy’s room and lock the door. My mom gets home, and I stay with her, the next day comes and I’m at the park with my friends playing around my other uncle comes and picks me up to drop me home. I go upstairs on the second floor into the kitchen to eat my food , after I’m done I go downstairs to the first floor where me , my mommy , my grandpa and grandma lives. I go inside I change and go to watch tv. My uncle who tried to touch me the other day comes in to the house and calls me into the kitchen. He’s sitting in a chair near the kitchen table with his private out he says come here. I say NO- he comes and grabs me pushes me to my knees and shoves his private part into my mouth and forces me to suck it , he keeps his big hands on my head to keep me from removing my head. I don’t know what to do other then to bite him. So I bite him and run away , I hid in my mommy’s room and lock the door and wait until she gets home. When she gets home I finally decide to tell her what’s been happening when everybody leaves me with this so called uncle of mine. Meanwhile he is in the kitchen and me and my mommy are prepping my shower. As the showers running I spill the beans and she looks shocked, she says are you sure baby? I said yes mommy he did it many times. So I stay in the bathroom and take my shower while she goes into the kitchen and talks to him, all I hear is low yelling , when I get out the shower and get dressed I come out of the bathroom and see him quit red eyes. I went into my mommy’s room and went to sleep. The next day...... he was gone, all of his belongings he came with were gone. I never seen him ever again. Today is June 17,2020 and it’s been 12 years since this all happened. 2 years ago I found out that he got cancer and died. I am 18 going on 19 in 1 month and a half , and I am not a victim............ But A Surviver.
Bryanna FleuristalPublished 4 years ago in VivaA Cry Never Heard Too
As time went on Lilianna became best friends with Mary Jane. Her father had never looked at her the same and it felt like wonderful life that she once knew would never be the same. Before the travesty against her body she had been somewhat an ambivert, knowing when to be introvert and extrovert. However after the rape she went completely changed, becoming an introvert completely. It was as if her spirit internally had been crushed, no longer in touch with God. She started to question if he was real, why would he let that happen to her, was it her fault for being disobedient or sneaky. Poor Lilianna, a child that had to face so many hard questions.
EnlightenedMindzSpeakPublished 4 years ago in Viva