Hi people. I just got in from an emotionally draining night. Here's the deal. I was on the planning committee for the Candlelight Vigil for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence which happened to night. It's a night of sharing personal stories and experiences, music, poetry, interprative dance, and support.
In June, a friend of mine, B, told me she was raped. It was then that I knew I had to get up during the open mic time of the vigil to speak. Last year was the first year I went to the vigil, and my good friend, A, got up to tell her story about how she was raped by a stranger (which is rare because most rapes are by a person the victim knows). I was shocked. No longer could I live in a bubble of ignorance because I knew someone who had been affected by this horrible crime. So in honor of my friends A, B, and one other extremely strong woman who survived rape, I got up to talk. I hadn't planned what I was going to say specifically, but I had the general idea. I walked confidently up to the mic and suddenly lost it. I started crying as soon as I started to speak. I had no idea that I would do that. Someone came up to stand with me and lend me some strength. I maganged to say my piece, tell my friends stories and how they have changed me.
The point of this post is to make you aware about the reality of these crimes. They are very hidden and not talked about. We need to break the silence. Here are some statistics I have about rape just to give you a clearer picture. They are from the mid-eighties to early ninties.
1 out of 3 women can expect to be sexually assualted in her lifetime.
A rape is reported every 6 minutes in the US.
Only 43.1% of women who are raped report the crime.
The US has the world's highest rape rate of the countries that publish such statistics.
50% of all rapes occur to women under the age of 18.
78% of rape victims know the rapist.
So there you have it. I hope you learned something. I really needed to share and get this out. Thanks guys.
*Hugs*
In June, a friend of mine, B, told me she was raped. It was then that I knew I had to get up during the open mic time of the vigil to speak. Last year was the first year I went to the vigil, and my good friend, A, got up to tell her story about how she was raped by a stranger (which is rare because most rapes are by a person the victim knows). I was shocked. No longer could I live in a bubble of ignorance because I knew someone who had been affected by this horrible crime. So in honor of my friends A, B, and one other extremely strong woman who survived rape, I got up to talk. I hadn't planned what I was going to say specifically, but I had the general idea. I walked confidently up to the mic and suddenly lost it. I started crying as soon as I started to speak. I had no idea that I would do that. Someone came up to stand with me and lend me some strength. I maganged to say my piece, tell my friends stories and how they have changed me.
The point of this post is to make you aware about the reality of these crimes. They are very hidden and not talked about. We need to break the silence. Here are some statistics I have about rape just to give you a clearer picture. They are from the mid-eighties to early ninties.
1 out of 3 women can expect to be sexually assualted in her lifetime.
A rape is reported every 6 minutes in the US.
Only 43.1% of women who are raped report the crime.
The US has the world's highest rape rate of the countries that publish such statistics.
50% of all rapes occur to women under the age of 18.
78% of rape victims know the rapist.
So there you have it. I hope you learned something. I really needed to share and get this out. Thanks guys.
*Hugs*
_____
I'll be the one to pick you up again
When you decide you've had enough of it
I'll be the one
I'll be the one
I'll be the one to pick you up again
When you decide you've had enough of it
I'll be the one
I'll be the one
