When
it comes to the current “#MeToo” movement that is going on, it is
heartwarming to see and hear about all the voices who are speaking up
and speaking out. By that same token, it is heartbreaking to realize
how prevalent an issue this really is, as well as how far-reaching.
It may have taken the sexual assault involving well-known Hollywood
figures like: Mira Sorvino, Rosanna Arquette, Ashley Judd, Alyssa
Milano (and others) to bring the issue to light. The ongoing Harvey
Weinstein sex-related cases involving hundreds of names is truly
shocking, but by far, nothing new! It is most definitely time for
something to be done, and #MeToo is helping.
Many
Faces of Sexual Assault
With
so many WOMEN
coming
forward recently, thanks to the #MeToo movement, let us not forget
that sexual assault has many faces. It’s not just happening with
women, but with men, and even more sadly, with little girls and boys.
The problem, nor the ideal for a movement is not new by any means.
This is brought out in an an article titled: An
activist, a little girl and the heartbreaking origin of 'Me too'
In
this disturbing report, it states: “the seeds for the movement were
planted earlier than that -- in 1996, when Burke was a youth camp
director. After an all-girl bonding session, a young girl asked to
speak to Burke privately.” The article goes on to discuss the
horrific story of a child who was being abused. "For the next
several minutes this child ... struggled to tell me about her
'stepdaddy' or rather her mother's boyfriend who was doing all sorts
of monstrous things to her developing body.”
For
some people, it’s almost unbelievable to hear such stories, and
others like it, but for those of us who know the truth first-hand,
it’s almost the norm. But thanks to #MeToo and similar movements,
victims are showing themselves to be true SURVIVORS by finally taking
the dreaded and difficult step of coming forward. They are saying
YES! IT REALLY DID HAPPEN TO ME! No more denial, to self, or anyone
else. Only someone who’s ever had to live with the memory of sexual
assault can fully understand what that means. This is the first step
(in the right direction) towards freeing yourself from the weight of
a burden you never should have had to bear.
What
Comes Next
Is
the #metoo movement a temporary, trending thing? According to one CBS
news report: “#MeToo
reaches 85 countries with 1.7 million tweets”. One day
following that report, the New York Times wrote about: “A
#MeToo Moment for the European Parliament”. With thousands of
victims coming out of the shadows and sharing bits, pieces, and all
of their stories; it appears that this movement is NOT just a
fly-by-night online trend. But what comes next on your own individual
path back to empowerment? Do you feel like you want to do more or has
your pain truly been healed?
Coming
forward (even anonymously) and speaking out is a HUGE step, speaking
from personal experience. But what comes next if you feel the need to
do more? You may need to find a healthy way to continue the dialogue
until it hurts a little less and less. In my own case, I’ve been
able to use something that I love (writing), as a tool in healing my
own pain. For a better understanding of this point, please take a
moment to read the following blog post titled: Survivors:
Finding Ways to Assert Your Power
The
above-mentioned post is taken from a blog I specifically created as a
companion to my book: “Skipping
Childhood: A Novel
” This book centers on the life of a young girl who is the victim
of sexual assault. The child has a history of abuse, just like the
author who wrote the story. Although no murders were ever really
committed in real life, being able to kill the predators off in the
book was extremely therapeutic.
If
you are a #metoo survivor and want to read about creative paths to
empowerment, be sure to check out some of the blog entries on the
Skipping Childhood
(Ramblings) blog. And don’t forget, if there is someone else
you know of who may benefit from this information, be sure to pass it
on.
