CCChat_2

When I first wrote it was for me, to
process what I had lived, to make sense of
the senseless. I understood pretty early
on that abuse is something rarely talked
about.
If people were robbed, assaulted on a
night out or had their homes broken into,
that could be spoken about. Then I was
surprised by how many women had
similar experiences, worse experiences or
not as bad experiences. And the recurring
theme was one of feeling silenced.
Close behind came shame and the feeling
that somehow, no matter what level of
abuse, that they were responsible, that
they shared some blame for what had
happened to them. Silence is the biggest
friend of those who commit violence
against women and girls, from the
alleyway, to our homes, to the casting of
Hollywood stars.
After all in 2017 Weinstein has his
defenders blaming those who are
speaking out for ‘dressing the way they
do’ or ‘wanting coverage’. There are some
asking why didn’t they come forward. His
brother Bob Weinstein when asked why
he didn’t intervene answered that he had
tolerated his behaviour “because it didn’t
rise to a certain level”.
The problem is women are very rarely the
decider’s of the ‘level’, it’s instead brushed
away, minimised and in this can also be
found the answer to why the women
didn’t come forward sooner.
Rape, sexual assault, abuse are serious
crimes, so why should we feel ashamed to
speak out? If it can help one other person,
I’ll mention it. I’ll write about it. I’ll fully
disclose every time I see an opportunity
that my story can unlock a door for
another to feel less ashamed of something
for which they have no blame.
Rebecca