The Beginnings
Sexual abuse and harassment is not new to this era. However the empowerment of the voices that once hid their words and expressions behind veils of embarrassment and distrust are now being uplifted and even encouraged to speak out. This movement that started as a hashtag in 2006 created by Tarana Burkes along with other low income minorities, began the exposure of survivors and built a network of solidarity amongst the experiences of each survivor. Especially important to highlight is that this grassroots movement that took a white feminist objective of combatting sexual abuse was expanded to an intersectional approach. Minorities and low income women are most likely to be victims of sexual abuse and least likely to be believed and ridiculed for speaking up. This movement often criticized for potentially just becoming a trend to vindicate innocent people, has created a space for masses of silenced people to speak up about their experiences and face the mental effects of the movement.
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I could not find the strength to say out loud the words that were ringing in my head over and over again as she tried to tell me what she had endured. I watched her walk away from me as she tried to recapture her secrets and tuck them back into their hiding place. I watched her put her mask back on and go back into the world like she was all alone and I couldn’t even bring myself to whisper…me too. |
sexual abuse and injustice
Despite fast mobilizing grass roots movements being at the forefront for fighting for justice for survivors, patriarchy and wealth often take precedent over the lived experiences of many women and men. Different cases of injustice seen in politicians to Wall Street financiers, actors, directors, people from all walks of life are too often excused for their demeanor and their crimes and subsequent detriments that they have caused on survivors. Excuses such as "boys will be boys" or "they were drinking" or "their whole life will be ruined" lead to so many endured experiences to be suppressed and often ridiculed by the media and the public.
People v. Brock turner
Brock Allen Turner. Credit: Santa Clara County Office of the Sheriff
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Brock Turner was an infamous case of prestige and the white dominated patriarchy excusing rape. Turner raped an unconscious student named Chanel Miller behind a dumpster and he was caught by two graduate students to hold him until he was arrested. He posted at $150,000 bail and was released. The media however, did not highlight his actual crime, but usually portrayed him as a beloved and high achieving Stanford swimmer who made a "mistake". In the end Judge Alan Persky only sentenced Turner to a six month sentence and was released early.
"Light Sentence for Brock Turner in Stanford Rape Case Draws Outrage"
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Jeffrey Epstein
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Jeffrey Epstein was a prime example of the way that wealth is the ultimate arbiter of justice in the United States. Epstein had a net worth of more than half a billion dollars which allowed him to get away with a planned network of sexual abuse of underage girls. His wife Ghislaine Maxwell was his partner in this twisted ring. Not only was Epstein a sexual offender but many of the world's most public figures such as politicians like Donald Trump and Bill Clinton to royalty like Prince Andrew have been seen to interact frequently with Epstein and could have potentially also abused underaged girls. His investigation was lengthy and at one point was arrested but could get in and out of prison as he pleased. Once he was actually sent to prison for the rest of his life, he committed suicide. Many of the survivors are still grappling with the abuse and the detriments to their mental health and reputation caused by the pervasive investigation in the public eye.
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Pictures of a handful of the Survivors who spoke out and a picture of Epstein with his companions
Petitioning and Recent events
Vanessa Guillen
A memorial for Specialist Vanessa Guillen in Houston. She went missing at Fort Hood on April 22, and her family sought answers for months until her remains were found and identified (New York Times). Credit: Steve Gonzales/Houston Chronicle, via Associated Press
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A recent case of a 20 year old Army Specialist named Vanessa Guillén has been recently covered. Vanessa Guillén disappeared after speaking out against the sexual harassment she experienced in her base. Recently her remains were found. Her perpetrator Aaron David Robinson recently killed himself and his girlfriend is now being charged with tampering with evidence. An instance like this should not have occurred even less in the Army base of the most powerful country in the world.
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#Challengeaccepted
In a recent instagram challenge, #ChallengeAccepted, many women were posting black and white pictures showcasing their solidarity with other females and the feminist movement. However, many failed to recognize the actual current origins of the movement, that stemmed from the murder of a Turkish woman named Pınar Gültekin who was just one case of many of femicide in the region. The cases of male domestic violence is on the rise and its important to draw attention to this issue of females worldwide as in the United States.
"A July demonstration organized by We Will Stop Femicide, an organization tracking the number of women murdered in Turkey".
Credit: NURPHOTO/GETTY IMAGES/Elle
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