Many women and men in South Asia go through sexual abuse without expressing it. The non-expression is a consequence of multiple societal factors that not only create a taboo around the discussion, but also forces people to downplay its psychological effects.
@PedestrianPoet from Twitter started a thread urging victims of sexual assault to open up about their story. The result was hundreds of tweets about how the people they loved and were close to, did not pay much heed to the damage the incidents have caused.
Retweet this if someone has ever slighted your experience and trauma of sexual abuse. Quote this with experience if ur comfortable doing so.
— hk 孔知韵 (@chiaseedpuddin) October 13, 2016
Following this, there was a massive out pour of tweets
The following were some of the things they had to hear
“These things happen”
was told by a psychologist that "these things happen" and that I "put myself in that situation". I was 15
— Rani Chandravati (@TheShuchiSingh) October 14, 2016
“Log Kia sochain gay!?”
What makes me feel sorry is that I was asked to shut up as a teen when I objected because it was someone in the family.
— Anmol Loonia (@AnmolLoonia) October 13, 2016
“At least someone thinks you’re beautiful”
https://twitter.com/Bacardidevi/status/786622989328523265
“At least your hymen is intact”
My mum when I began getting flashbacks of my CSA: "Why are you crying about it now? You didn't lose your virginity"
— Anu Elizabeth Roche (@LizzyDarcy) October 14, 2016
*Uncontrollable Laughter*
was groped and molested both inside and outside of the metro by the same person when I told my "best friend" she laughed
— Rhiannon (@malharfilhaal) October 14, 2016
“Do you have any proof?”
my parents asked me to prove it and he was my uncle even after that my parents would greet him & his family serve food gifts
— Sri (@Sriharemanaswin) October 14, 2016
Discussion and conversations about such topics are what helps us understand the problems in our behavior! We need to be more vocal about such situations so we educate everyone on how to act around and handle a loved one going through the resultant psychological trauma!
