1 in 3 girls have experienced sexual assault before she even is 16.
1 in 7 boys will have experienced sexual assault by adulthood. You may have come across these terms various times, and unfortunately this is the truth. It has been this way for years now. April is known as the month for sexual assault awareness. This time, we will not remain silent. He will not have to shrug it off. She will not be forced silent. They will not have to pretend like it didn’t happen. You are more than a statistic. You are more than just the ‘victim’. You are a survivor. He is not a coward. She is brave. They have done nothing to deserve this. Right now, you need to remember, there is no right way to ‘react’ to what has happened. But you need to remember, that even though these emotions can be unbearable, intense and difficult to bear with, there are people ready to listen. There are people ready to help. No matter what gender you identify as, feeling these emotions that you’re coping with are valid. Remember, sexual assault can happen to anyone. Regardless of gender. To the boys who feel ashamed, and think that they should have been ‘strong enough’ to fight off the abuser, we hear you. You need to remember, this was not your fault. Many people believe that sexual assault doesn’t happen to men. This is completely false. 1in6 is a website dedicated to removing that stigma, and is entirely confidential. (https://1in6.org/) The social stigma and silence around male sexual abuse and assault results in a lack of awareness and understanding about the effects of these experiences, and what men need to move forward. Boys and men can both be sexually assaulted, and has nothing to do with how ‘masculine’ they might be. Whether he is gay, straight or bisexual, a boy’s sexual orientation is neither the cause nor the result of sexual abuse. By focusing on the abusive nature of sexual abuse rather than the sexual aspects of the interaction, it becomes easier to understand that sexual abuse has nothing to do with a boy’s sexual orientation. Girls and women can sexually abuse or assault boys and men. The boys and men are not “lucky,” but exploited and harmed. To the girls who have been taught that they were ‘asking for it’. We hear you. You were not ‘tempting’ your abuser into assaulting you. To the women who were told to be grateful it happened, we hear you. We are here for you. You need to remember, there are people ready to listen. You were not abused because your ‘skirt was too short’ or because you were ‘asking for it’. You are so much more than that. Survivors of sexual assault have been silenced daily. Heads bowed, lips pursed, eyes down. Put a scarf on our heads, and marry our women and girls off. Congratulate our men and tell them they are lucky. Put henna on our women and girl’s hands, the very same hands that were pinned down. Tell our boys that they can’t ‘be a victim’. Slapped, shut down, told to be quiet. Hurt, silenced, and told not to tell anyone else. Shamed, considered ‘impure’ and married off. You are more than numbers on a paper. You are more than the police reports stacked on a desk, gathering dust, unnoticed. You are more than a statistic, and it is so important that you know that. You are not defined by what your abuser(s) have done. Those who have been traumatised will never be what they were, they are remade into something that is beyond measure stronger, more beautiful, kinder and empathetic." The stigma that has grown around our people, is disgusting to say at the least. Survivors are people who have been through so much. Everyone has a story. Everyone has a different reason as to why they wake up every morning. We are all so extraordinarily complex. But we at shakti believe that this is what makes us beautiful. You are not alone. You are not the only one who can’t sleep at night, or is crying today. Women of colour all over the world have been subjected to sexual assault, and are forced silent. They are married off, and told that they are worthless. Here at shakti, we are dedicated to eradicating this stigma surrounding our brave survivors. Some helplines that are completely confidential; SHAKTI- 0800 742 584 SAFE NETWORK- 09 377 9898 SHINE- 0508 744 633 HELP- 09 623 1700 Call 111 for emergency services. Lifeline- 0800 543 354 Or call 1737 to speak to a trained counsellor.
2 Comments
9/23/2020 09:04:05 am
Harbor Compounding Pharmacy in California to provide better health solutions. We want to educate the women for sexual health and be informative. Harbor is working to educate women about how their sexual health can decrease with their age or associated-gynecological issues and why they shouldn't feel uncomfortable discussing these issues with their doctor, so the problems get solved. In this case, Harbor Compounding Pharmacy provides complete facilitation and counseling of Female sexual health.
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Mildred Armah
7/2/2022 05:44:03 pm
Hi Layba,
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