Breaking the Silence
Talking about the issue is important.
This feels simple enough right? Why do we even need to say it in the first place? Don’t we say that “talk is cheap and actions matter”?
People have not been talking about it. Think how many conversations you have about sex and sexuality with your peers, friends, family and partners?
Let’s consider sexual assault. If no one’s talking about it, how is a survivor going to know who they can go to for help? The unfortunate reality of sexual violence is that most of the time people are not talking about it or when they do, it’s in one of two ways: how the survivor should have done a better job at keeping themselves safe or joking about it.
Talking about sexual violence in our own circles is a good first step toward making a positive change. The more you speak out, the more people will start to see that talking about these issues is okay, and they’ll be more likely to do so themselves. The more people talk about these issues in a positive way, the more likely it is survivors will hear that their experiences matter. Chances are that people around you, feel the exact same way.
By speaking out, you have the potential to let survivors and other allies know that they’re not alone. The more people that speak out, the greater our community becomes
This feels simple enough right? Why do we even need to say it in the first place? Don’t we say that “talk is cheap and actions matter”?
People have not been talking about it. Think how many conversations you have about sex and sexuality with your peers, friends, family and partners?
Let’s consider sexual assault. If no one’s talking about it, how is a survivor going to know who they can go to for help? The unfortunate reality of sexual violence is that most of the time people are not talking about it or when they do, it’s in one of two ways: how the survivor should have done a better job at keeping themselves safe or joking about it.
Talking about sexual violence in our own circles is a good first step toward making a positive change. The more you speak out, the more people will start to see that talking about these issues is okay, and they’ll be more likely to do so themselves. The more people talk about these issues in a positive way, the more likely it is survivors will hear that their experiences matter. Chances are that people around you, feel the exact same way.
By speaking out, you have the potential to let survivors and other allies know that they’re not alone. The more people that speak out, the greater our community becomes
“Real courage is about doing things that are challenging and uncomfortable because you know that’s the way to make a better world. Things such as accepting a higher proportion of women in roles of power and expertise. Or listening to women talking about our experiences of violence and discrimination without interrupting or trying to make it all about you.”
- Laurie Penny, In Defense of White Knights -
“Instead of telling women that it’s not all men, show them. Show them by listening and supporting.”
- Chuck Wendig, Not all men but still too many men -
“…we started getting success stories, we started hearing from women that said she was a keen runner and she often experienced harassment, she thought it was just the way things were and then after reading the stories on the website she realized…that this shouldn’t be normal and it wasn’t okay…”
- Laura Bates, Everyday Sexism -
Speak out! Break the silence. Advocate for change
