When women reportsexual assault, the sad truth is that they aren’t always believed.
High-profile cases in the recent past prove this point: Radio hostJian Ghomeshiwas accused of sexual harassment and rape.
Over 36 women sayBill Cosbyassaulted them.
Photo: lekcej / Getty Images; Graphic: Valerie Fischel
And recently, Donald Trump has been accused ofgroping,harassing, andassaultingseveral women.
And instead of listening to what they have to say, many people dismissed them.
Ghomeshi supporters claimed that the woman accusing him of rape simply enjoyed rough sex.
And the women who have spoken out against Donald Trump have been slandered by his campaign and his supporters.
Survivors worry that they won’t be believed.
Firstly, someone may not even know that what happened to them was assault.
Even if you flirted.
Even if you were drinking.
Even if you were wearing a short skirt.
Even if you said “yes” during a previous encounter.
Even if you said “yes” to doing the same thing with someone else.
Knowing definitively that you were assaulted does not make reporting it any easier.
Many survivors reportfeeling humiliatedafter being assaulted, and not wanting anyone to know what happened.
There’s also a stigma.
I’m worthless, I’m filthy, I’m dirty,'“she said.
“…It was almost crippling.”
There’s also the sad reality of what it’s like to report sexual assault.
They may worry about appearing “too calm” or “too hysterical” to be taken seriously.
If they choose to have arape kit performed, that experience can be traumatizing, too.
Unfortunately, this is rare, and many survivors call their reporting experiences traumatic.
She remembers feeling humiliated while the police asked her questions like: “What position did he use?
How many times did he penetrate you?
Did you orgasm or just him?”
“When I finally left, I felt so defeated.
So humiliated,” shewrote.
Her case was never solved.
For some people, reporting sexual assault can lead tothembeing punished.
Take the case of a female midshipman at the U.S.
Naval Academy, who reported being raped by three football players at an off-campus party in 2012.
The woman was swiftly punished for underage drinking.
What a world, huh?
None of this is to discourage anyone from reporting their own assault.
Survivors should be given the agency to decide what route is best for them.
Remember when ajudge told Keshashe couldn’t break her contract with a man she said drugged and raped her?
Remember when, time and time again, rapists were excused because their victimswore “skimpy” clothing?
Remember the women who reported what happened, thenlost their jobs?
The women who were publicly identified andcalled liars on the internet?
The women whojust want to be believed?
More resources are available online from theNational Sexual Violence Resource Center.
