Rape is not always in a dark alley
Sep 2, 2018 · 2 min read
The first time I was molested, I was 14. I was raped at 19. I know TOO MANY WOMEN who have been raped, molested, or more. I understand that boys and men can also be victims. I understand that women can also be perpetrators. I am not discounting those experiences when I talk about these. We have to expand our definition of rape to include more than assault and violence. Rape is not always in a dark alley on a late night.
- Rape is your boyfriend making you feel like you’re showing your love.
- Rape is a husband who only wants you for you body.
- Rape is your friend saying you can stay over and waking you up in the middle of the night with his body between your legs.
- Rape is your Tinder date insisting you go over to his place.
- Rape is your boyfriend getting angry when you say no because you’re tired.
- Rape is your uncle teaching you things you’re not ready to know.
- Rape is your cousin saying you’re just playing house and that you’re the wife.
- Rape is wanting to peel the skin off your body the next day.
- Rape is realizing what actually happened only years later.
- Rape is you telling yourself it’s okay because technically you were in his bed.
- Rape is suffering in silence because after all, he’s your husband.
- Rape is a game you’re too young to understand but old enough to know you don’t enjoy.
- Rape is men being told to try harder and women being told to be quiet.
- Rape is calling a woman a piece of meat and a man a lion.
- Rape is telling the victim she deserved it.
- Rape is entitlement.
- Rape is powerplay.
- Rape is more than “a bad experience”.
- Rape is more than “non consensual sex”.
- Rape is not always in a dark alley on a late night.
Call it what it is. Say the word. It’s scary at first but the shame will turn to anger and hopefully, eventually the wounds will heal.
