Women take part in a march called by the movement "Ni una menos" (Not One Less) against violence against women in Santiago, on May 11, 2018. Hundreds of high-school students protested Wednesday in downtown Santiago to demand a "non-sexist education" in a wave of demos against sexual abuse and for a higher inclusion of women. / AFP PHOTO / Martin BERNETTI
KARACHI: Fear of shame, of disgrace and of consequences is why most sexual abuse and harassment survivors choose to remain silent.
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Voicing one of the most popular critiques of the #MeToo movement, United States President Donald Trump took to Twitter to challenge the veracity of psychologist Christine Blasey Ford’s accusation against Judge Brett Kavanaugh. He said she would surely have reported the assault to police “immediately” if the attack was “as bad as she says”.
His tweet didn’t go down well with social media and rightfully so. In the aftermath, the hashtag ‘#WhyIDidntReport’ began trending on Twitter in the latter part of last week as survivors came forward with their own reasons.
“#WhyIDidntReport because I knew which of us my parents would choose,” one wrote. “#WhyIDidntReport because I’m a minor and I’m embarrassed to tell my parents,” wrote another user.
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These are some of the most heart-wrenching stories:
1. “Have you been drinking; what were you wearing?” asked the police when I called to report.
2. “I was told it was my fault. I was 12.”
3. “He was my father.”
4. “Because my parents have a favourite child.”
5. “I didn’t even know it was a crime. I was that young.”
6. “It took me 30 years to tell anyone.”
7. “I was traumatised, terrified, embarrassed.”
8. “I was afraid my dad would be embarrassed because I should’ve known better. “
9. “I did report it – to my mother, but she did nothing.”
10. “Because I didn’t want to lose my job.”
How does she do it and can we pull it off?
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Yea, we’re trying to make a point. WILL YOU GET IT?