Here's the thing, people (men AND women), when you hear an account of a sexual assault and you honestly don't believe it, sharing your belief out loud or online means you are shutting the door on future assault victims. /1
That future victim could be a brother or a sister, son or daughter, father or mother. When they are scared and alone, they will be both, they will remember what you didn't believe. Why on earth would they trust YOU with the little, if any, trust they have left? /2
Protest this idea with, "oh but that's different," but it isn't.
Protest this idea with, "my (insert relation here) would never be stupid enough to (insert literally any behaviour you think justifies rape)" and you've not only shut the door, you've locked it. /3
Protest this idea with, "my (insert relation here) would never be stupid enough to (insert literally any behaviour you think justifies rape)" and you've not only shut the door, you've locked it. /3
Whatever justification you're using right now to not #BelieveSurvivors is what any victim you might know hears when they consider reaching out to YOU for help.
If its already happened to them, we all know why you don't know about it. /4
If its already happened to them, we all know why you don't know about it. /4
In 5, 10, or 40 years, spare everyone the righteous indignation you feel for not being told when it happened. You closed that door and locked it.
So LISTEN right now instead of shouting about how you dont believe. Chances are, someone's already standing on your stoop. /end
So LISTEN right now instead of shouting about how you dont believe. Chances are, someone's already standing on your stoop. /end
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