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April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

A Violent Culture That Must Change


Hey Y'all. 

I'm back with another heavy topic that's necessary to talk about and bring awareness to: sexual assault.

April is recognized as Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM); a time to raise public awareness about sexual violence, to educate communities on how to prevent it, and most importantly, to support the survivors of these acts.

Heartbreakingly, this isn’t just a month-long issue. Sexual violence is an ongoing crisis in America. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC), 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men have experienced some form of contact sexual violence in their lifetime. 

And those are just the ones who have spoke out about it. Many survivors carry the weight of their trauma silently, sometimes for decades.👀👀


The Survivors

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been on social media reading brave and emotional survivor stories and watching raw confessional videos from people who’ve experienced things no one ever should have. Some were speaking out for the first time. Some have carried their stories for year and years and years. Their pain, anger, courage, and resilience, is very real, very palpable, and at times it’s overwhelming. 

If you're a survivor reading this, I want to say  I see you. I believe you. You didn’t deserve what happened to you. Your story matters. Your voice matters. You matter.

You are not alone in your grief, in your healing, or in your strength. There is no one “right” way to heal, as that path looks different for everybody. What matters is that you know there is support available, and people who care.

And if the trauma is still buried beneath the surface and you haven't spoken out yet, that’s okay too. You ain't obligated to share your story for it to be valid. Silence does not equal weakness. On the contrary, it's often a form of self-protection, and that too, takes strength.

A Culture That Must Change

Sexual violence is not simply an individual issue; it’s a cultural one. One that we need to take a long, hard look at, and the way our society often excuses, minimizes, or even laughs off sexual harm. Like, the way survivors are questioned, blamed, or dismissed, while conversely, the way perpetrators (especially those with power) are too often protected.

Recently, I watched a speaker give a talk on sexual assault at a college campus. At one point, she asked for everyone in the room who had either personally experienced sexual assault or knew someone who had, to stand. Slowly, the majority of the room (men and women alike) rose to their feet. The silence was deafening!

Then she asked another question: “If the person you’re thinking of reported their assault, stay standing.” And one by one y'all, people started sitting back down. Most of them, not surprisingly.

That moment really stuck with me because it silently said so much about the weight survivors carry, the barriers they face, and the culture of shame and fear that keeps people silent!

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, more than 2 out of 3 sexual assaults are never reported to law enforcement. Reasons vary: fear of not being believed, fear of retaliation, stigma, lack of support, or simply the emotional toll of reliving the trauma in a legal/court setting.

And the system? 

Often, it fails survivors. 

RAINN reports that only about 25 out of every 1,000 perpetrators will end up in prison. -- A sobering and highly infuriating stat. This is why awareness matters. This is why listening matters. This is why believing matters.

So this blog isn’t just about awareness y'all, it’s about action! We can support survivors by listening without judgment. 

By believing them. 

By calling out rape jokes, challenging victim-blaming, and educating ourselves and others. 

Normalize teaching consent and respect from a young age. 

Normalize holding institutions accountable! 

We can donate to or volunteer with organizations doing the work on the ground. Most of all, we can keep showing up. Not just in April, but all-the-freaking-time!


Where to Find Help

If you or someone you love is a survivor of sexual violence, please know that there are resources available. You deserve support, safety, and healing:

 You are worthy of a life free from shame and full of love, peace, and healing.

Starting this month and continuing into the foreseeable future, let's reflect on the role each of us can play in creating a safer, more compassionate world.

To every survivor out there you are the heart of this movement, and we are with you!

EM





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