In the wake of the latest news in the media with Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and the recent allegations against him, sexual assault is involved in numerous conversations across social media.
Christine Blasey Ford came forward to the judiciary committee to reveal that Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her when the two were in high school. Since going public with the story, supporters of Kavanaugh have attacked her on social media relentlessly–including President Donald Trump. Trump said that if the attack “were as bad as Dr. Ford has said it was,” she would have filed a report with law enforcement.
I have no doubt that, if the attack on Dr. Ford was as bad as she says, charges would have been immediately filed with local Law Enforcement Authorities by either her or her loving parents. I ask that she bring those filings forward so that we can learn date, time, and place!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 21, 2018
What Trump doesn’t understand is that sexual assault is never that easy. Victims have numerous reasons for not coming forward and reporting their attacks. After Trump’s tasteless and vicious tweet, victims began to share why they didn’t report their own assaults.
I did, it didn’t matter, I was dismissed, disparaged, & I still get blamed #WhyIDidntReport
— Daryl Hannah (@dhlovelife) September 21, 2018
My mom said she would kill anyone who hurt me and at 9 years old i believed her. I was afraid she would go to jail. #WhyIDidntReport
— Jaime Primak (@JaimePrimak) September 21, 2018
#WhyIDidntReport because it took me 30 years to even know and admit it happened because that’s how traumatic it was
— Charlene deGuzman (@charstarlene) September 21, 2018
Because he was my Uncle and when I tried to say something I was grounded and whipped. I felt dirt because he made me feel like I wanted it. And I didnt want people to think I was incestuous. (13 years) #WhyIDidntReport
— Wendywitch (@Wendywitch1990) September 21, 2018
#WhyIDidntReport because the next morning everyone in the house clapped as if they were proud this 19yo “man” had sex with me. I was 16yo. That gave me the impression it wasn’t a bad thing
— Alison Turkos (@alisonturkos) September 21, 2018
#WhyIDidntReport bc I was scared I would lose all my friends, bc I was scared I would die, bc I didn't know how, bc I didn't really know I could, bc no one ever taught me what sexual assault was so when it happened to me I didn't even know. and bc I knew nothing would happen.
— Mitra Jouhari (@tweetrajouhari) September 21, 2018
I was 19. With a terrifying look in his eyes, he pinned me down, grabbed both my wrists with 1 hand & tried to unbutton my pants with another. I kicked him as hard as I could in the crotch and ran out. He didn’t actually rape me so I thought “nothing” happened. #WhyIDidntReport
— Meredith Salenger (@MeredthSalenger) September 21, 2018
He was a police officer. #WhyIDidntReport
— Thrifty (@Thrifty48617862) September 21, 2018
The sexual abuse occurred over ten years. Most of the time, I denied that what happened actually happened. Because when it's your mother, you find ways to rationalize the behavior, even when, by any objective viewpoint, it should clearly be abuse. (thread)#WhyIDidntReport
— Charlotte Clymer?️? (@cmclymer) September 21, 2018
When I was raped, I didn't report it because of the fear of no one believing me. My family certainly didn't believe me even though I don't lie. When they saw the pain I was in, they believed me. #WhyIDidntReport
— Kayla (@TVfanatic001) September 21, 2018
He was my stepfather. My mom, his co-pastor, blamed it on demons in the bed. I was 12. #WhyIDidntReport
— Maud Newton (@maudnewton) September 21, 2018
I was four, and he said he’d kill me. #WhyIDidntReport
— David Leavitt (@David_Leavitt) September 21, 2018
I was 14. When I finally spoke, 4 men from the church made me leave the room while they discussed. They called me back, said I shouldn't talk about this anymore. If I *had* to, "say it was your uncle, or somebody else, instead." Then asked me to pray with them. #WhyIDidntReport
— Tom Casiello (@tommiecas) September 21, 2018
A teacher at my school when I was 15 (he was my drivers ed teacher). Who would have believed a 15 year old vs. teacher? Never told my parents, school or anyone. Just shoved that memory in a box and never open it..its not the only memory – it has company in there. #WhyIDidntReport
— Mother of Dragging (@Shannonwilt1) September 21, 2018
#WhyIDidntReport I was 7 and didn't comprehend that what happened was assault. I was 13 and had had to break a ceramic mug over his head to get him off me. I was 18 and was told by my HR manager that I should be flattered that the guy stalking me "liked" me. I could go on…
— Michelle Prokopf (@MProkopf) September 21, 2018
#WhyIDidntReport because he was a “friend” and I was friends with all his friends. I was ashamed embarrassed and in too small of a community to deal with what would come as a result. I had my girlfriends to lean on. None encouraged me to report.
— MAdok (@meneed2vent) September 21, 2018
I didn't understand what had happened to me–I liked an older boy and he told me we had to do something to make us boyfriend and girlfriend.
Oh and also I was eight.#WhyIDidntReport
— Alicia Lutes (@alicialutes) September 21, 2018
I was 8. And 9. And 10. I needed someone to report for me. Nobody would. I was told to hide it. That people would judge the family.
Now I judge the family.
#WhyIDidntReport— Christine Clarke ? (@CCplusfour) September 21, 2018
#WhyIDidntReport He was a friend of my brothers. I had five of them and they and my dad would have killed him. I couldn’t be the cause of my family being torn apart. I was 13.
— SylviaYvonne (@sydj1405) September 21, 2018
#WhyIDidntReport because I literally didn't know there was a word for what happened. It wasn't until years later that I learned there was a word for what I experienced.
— Lee (@Leeturanga) September 21, 2018
#WhyIDidntReport Because I wasn’t ready to confront it. I’m still not. That doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. I’ve written and deleted this tweet dozens of times bc even saying this much is scary.
— TheBloggess (@TheBloggess) September 21, 2018
Because my stepdad raped me, a young Black boy, and I knew people wouldn’t believe that anyone would any power would believe those sort of acts. #WhyIDidntReport
— PrestonMitchum (@PrestonMitchum) September 21, 2018
He was the nephew of my father’s girlfriend at the time & was older & stronger than me. It started when I was 7 & I thought he’d hurt me more & that nobody would believe me. It took 4 years to break the silence. He was abusing other kids too, I later found out. #WhyIDidntReport
— deray (@deray) September 21, 2018
And, then, there are those who did report…
#WhyIDidntReport i did report, to the school and to the city, and nothing ever happened.
— jamie loftus ? (@jamieloftusHELP) September 21, 2018
I did report, but it was dismissed by the police. I know what it is like. I understand the shame and humiliation and why people don’t report. Women deserve to be treated with the dignity that is due to every human being. #WhyIDidntReport
— Janet Garrett (@Janet4OH) September 21, 2018
I DID report (along with MULTIPLE women). My harasser was promoted, and spent the next two years enacting retaliatory measures and seething with hatred. I was dismissed as a troublemaker. When (WHEN) it happens to my daughter, she might not report either #WhyIDidntReport
— Rebecca Schuman, PhD ? (@pankisseskafka) September 21, 2018
#WhyIDidntReport Relative said he'd send me to the mental hospital if I told. Teacher said he "couldn't help it." Boy was reported by 3 girls before me & admins did nothing. When I talked, decades later, I was disowned, smeared, distrusted. Nothing's changed.
— gracietalking (@gracietalking) September 21, 2018
The first thing I wanted to do after being raped was take a shower. And shower again & again & again to get the feeling of being violated off of me. With support from friends, I did attempt to report it, and I was told that there was no proof because I showered. #WhyIDidntReport
— Jessica Raven (@thejessicaraven) September 21, 2018
#WhyIDidntReport well, actually I did. I was bullied, I received death threats, people treated me with contempt for making a big deal out of something, I lost a lot of friends, and I wasn’t treated like a victim, at all. No one asked how I was doing, if I was ok, nothing.
— ?? (@chingonashinobi) September 21, 2018
#WhyIDidntReport I did. My military commander told me that I didn't have enough proof, and it would ruin my career.
Next time it was attempted (civilian) assault and I outran them onto base.
When i tried to report he had me disciplined for using a off limits gate to escape them.— kirsten houseknecht (@fabricdragon) September 21, 2018
And finally…
You know #WhyIDidntReport? Because when I finally did, I lost my athletic scholarship and had to drop out of school.
— daisy? (@taisydackett) September 21, 2018