Content Warning: Mature themes (sexual assault/abuse)
Under the #MeToo movement, #WhyIDidntReport has taken Twitter by storm with over 650,000 tweets and accounts of why women and men did not report their sexual abuse or assault. These accounts began after Donald Trump questioned the integrity of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, who has accused Brett Kavanaugh, Trump’s Supreme Court Justice nominee, of sexually assaulting her while they were in high school. Trump’s insensitivity to survivors of sexual assault and abuse has spurred a Twitter frenzy driven by survivors who are finally coming forward with their stories and their reasons for never speaking up before. Faced with a loud, toxic political environment of masculinity and misogyny, these survivors are now refusing to remain silent.
The Strength of Survivors
There are many reasons why women don’t come forward when they become victims of sexual assault. In tweets such as the following, we can see the callousness and blatant disregard for the survivor’s inability to come forward due to the stigma we place, as a society, on sex and sexual assault. These accounts range from sheer terror to shame, from lack of resources to judgmental family and friends, from disbelief to believing it was their own fault, and from unawareness to the toxic platitude of “boys will be boys.”
The Cruel and Unfair Truth
According to RAINN, two out of three accounts of sexual assault and abuse go unreported and undocumented. This begs the question: why are victims so reluctant to go to law enforcement? Because survivors almost never receive any type of reparations for the emotional and physical damage of their sexual assault by reporting to law enforcement. Additionally, most rapists and abusers go unpunished. Just 7 out of 1,000 rapes result in a felony conviction, thus heightening the feeling of helplessness and general lack of faith in the courts that forces the “keep quiet” mindset onto survivors.
The Stigma Surround Sex and Sexual Assault
Survivors of sexual assault are often bombarded with victim-shaming questions about what they were wearing, if they were intoxicated, or if they were with friends. When they decide to come forward, they often face scrutiny, judgment, and blame from family and friends. Men are also shamed for coming forward because of the misogynistic assumption that they “always want it,” and when they don’t they seem weak, which leads to feelings of emasculation. After a victim experiences sexual assault, they are not likely to report the incident to the police because of the violation of their bodily autonomy. Victims may not seek forensic evidence kits due to the intrusive nature of the procedure. Barriers victims face when it comes to opening up about their assault may include a fear of not being believed, the trauma of retelling their experience, and a feeling of powerlessness or fear. Assuming victims are lying only deepens their vulnerability and continuously discourages them from seeking help. Survivors of assault are most likely telling the truth; therefore, respecting their emotions and ensuring their safety are top priorities, not to mention necessary for the healing process.
If you or a loved one have experienced or are experiencing sexual abuse or assault, please call these numbers:
National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-4673
National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline 1-866-331-9474 or 1-866-331-8453
National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224
For more information please click here.