I Spoke up Against Sexual Violence — and Faced Our Culture’s Wrath. That Has to Change.
We have an opening now to bolster and build institutions protective of women. Let’s not ignore it.
By Amber Heard
I was exposed to abuse at a very young age. I knew certain things early on, without ever having to be told. I knew that men have the power- physically, socially and financially- and that a lot of institutions support that arrangement. I knew this long before I had the words to articulate it, and I bet you learned it young, too.
Like many women, I had been harassed and sexually assaulted by the time I was of college age. But I kept quiet — I did not expect filing complaints to bring justice. And I didn’t see myself as a victim.
Then two years ago, I became a public figure representing domestic abuse, and I felt the full force of our culture’s wrath for women who speak out.
Friends and advisers told me I would never again work as an actress — that I would be blacklisted. A movie I was attached to recast my role. I had just shot a two-year campaign as the face of a global fashion brand, and the company dropped me. Questions arose as to whether I would be able to keep my role of Mera in the movies “Justice League” and…
