Lena Dunham, star of HBO’s hit comedy Girls, has been in the news recently after releasing her memoir Not That Kind Of Girl in October. Her book includes entertaining stories about life, love, work and friendship. Although the book itself has been getting good reviews, it has also brought forth some surprising controversy. In her memoir, Lena wrote about being sexually assaulted while attending college. Though she does note on the copyright page that some names and identifying details have been changed, she is unfortunately still facing backlash, with people questioning the veracity of her story and working to identify who her alleged assaulter was.
Lena’s decision to share her story was not easy, as she stated in a BuzzFeed article she posted Monday night: “When I finally chose to share my story, I did not do so in a vacuum. I was inspired by all the brave women who are now coming forward with their own experiences, despite the many risks associated with speaking out.” Despite the bravery she’s shown, she’s still being questioned on her credibility and many have also pointed fingers at the passage involving her younger sister, going as far as to say she “sexually assaulted” Grace. It is situations like these that make it even harder for survivors like Lena to feel safe enough to tell their own stories.
As fans of Lena, we admire her decision and strength to come forward in support of fellow survivors. Sexual assault is a serious subject that is getting more attention in the news, but it is still an issue people don’t really know how to deal with. The recent exposure of unresolved sexual assaults on college campuses further show that there is extreme scrutiny and doubt when it comes to victims’ stories. Many college students who have been sexually assaulted get criticized for having grey areas in their stories as a result of being under the influence, just as Lena explains she was. “I was afraid that no one would believe me. I was afraid other potential partners would consider me damaged goods. I was afraid I was overreacting. I was afraid it was my fault. I was afraid he would be angry. Eight years later, I know just how classic these fears are. They are the reason that the majority of college women who are assaulted will never report it,” she writes.
Being a survivor who also happens to be in the public eye can’t be easy, and we applaud Lena for opening up in the hopes of helping others heal as well while also working towards making a change. When it comes to how sexual assault is handled on college campuses, Lena states, “Prevention and response on campuses is only a small part of the problem with how we as a nation are handling sexual assault. But it’s a good place to start. Educational spaces must be made safe, so that we leave them stronger and poised to enact change.” We couldn’t agree more.