Seen But Never Heard
Sex is the route of our existence, so naturally, it’s impact on human experience is vast. The sexual assault epidemic in America, and across the world, is extremely widespread and prevalent. Rising numbers of women have been coming forward about sexual allegations in recent years, which has been highly attributed to social media. This is beneficial progress, but there are still many more advancements to be made. While sexual harassment happens all around us every single day, the majority of people’s stories go unheard and unaddressed.
We will be focusing on sexual harassment specifically in the school system, including grade school and college. Sexual assault cases are extremely common in this sector, and are frequently looked over or dismissed by authority figures. We will be discussing the psychological effects of sexual harassment on victims and the groups that are at the highest risk. We will also be assessing the activism that this injustice has sprung, and the controversies around this activism. Finally, we will review the tactics advocates can take to improve these circumstances.
The Struggle For Victims:
Sexual assault can cause significant trauma for individuals, that can sometimes take them a lifetime to recover from. Victims are often underage, or feel ashamed or embarrassed about their situation and don’t want to come forward about them.The documentary, “Audrie and Daisy”, which is available on Netflix, really illuminates the struggles that young girls who deal with sexual assault and rape have to face. According to the data from RAINN, younger people are at the highest risk of sexual assault and that women ages 18 to 24 are at an elevated risk. This indicates that college campuses could foster a platform to perpetuate sexual harassment. Despite the efforts of preventing these instances within schools, like holding events or setting weeks for advocation preventing it, colleges and schools are notorious for neglecting victims and preserving the reputation of oppressors.
Activism and Advocacy:
There have been many different types of activism surrounding sexual assault. The Me Too movement has been one of the major sources of progress around liberation for sexual harassment victims, and this advocacy has been primarily through social media. It attempts to provide people with a sense of the magnitude of the problem, and to give victims the assurance that they are not alone. Raising awareness about the pervasiveness of sexual abuse and harassment is one of the best ways to attempt to prevent it. Other forms of activism include a Cal Poly student, Amelia Meyerhoff, who created what is called the Clap-Back. After she was raped by who she thought was a friend, she wanted to bring awareness to the issue and speak to others about how they feel and to make sure that they are being listened to and heard. Many students try to bring awareness to this issue and want others to know that this is a prominent issue in our society.
Rising Controversies:
Due to the recent increase in women coming forward about their sexual harassment in comparison to the past, the conversation around this topic has began to grow, causing their to be many different opinions on it. Though there are many women and men who strive for justice against sexual oppressors, and have sympathy for the victims, there are also many who see this new burst in allegations as an attempt to destroy the lives of men. There have been women who have made up accusations of rape or sexual assault, but this is such a rare phenomenon that it isn’t even really worth considering.
What Needs to Change:
In order for the activism we have available to be improved, bigger organizations could get involved, and schools need to do a better job advertising their services for sexual harassment survivors and increase education and protocol. Activism groups could work harder to lobby politicians and school districts to get stricter rules put into place. Finally, as individuals we could attempt to inform those around us, promote consent, and advocate through social media and rallies. One of the most important things we can do for victims, is remind them that they are not alone, and that there is a community of people hidden within the crowds around them that have had the same experiences and feelings.
