#metoo . . A hashtag and 5 letters can say a lot about someone's life experiences. It can unite strangers in a common pain, common healing, common awareness. The sheer volume of people who have shared their experiences or simply posted #metoo somewhere on social media is astonishing. But really none of this is that surprising, not even a little. Any woman, of any race, social class, or education level, regardless of attractiveness (or not), can tell you that sexual assault and sexual harassment happen every day, to every kind of woman (and girl). If you're a woman and you tell me it hasn't happened to you or anyone you know you're either lying or oblivious. If you're a woman and you tell me that problem isn't as bad as everyone is "outing" with the #metoo hashtag you have been incredibly sheltered in life (and well, lucky for you).
The reality, and it's a frightening one, is that the problem is likely 10 times worse. For every woman who reports sexual assault to the police, there are many, MANY, more who do not. For every woman who reports sexual harassment to a superior, there are many, MANY, more who do not. How do I know this? I fit both categories and I have many friends who fit one, the other, or both as well.
And while I believe the #metoo campaign (campaign, is that even the right word?) is important for awareness, and I vigorously applaud those willing and able to use their voice to advance this cause, I cannot be one of those people.
I knew at the time my sexual assault occurred that the backlash, the victim blaming and similar behaviors would be more than I could endure. Especially in my then-fragile state of just trying to survive each day. I knew that I would never see legal justice, as very few do, and that his job as a prosecutor (in the county where it occurred) would be more than I could overcome with the truth. Even though I knew, then, deep down inside of me (and 18 years later, I know with certainty) that it was not my fault, that I did not do anything to cause him to rape me, that he alone made the decision to hurt me. I also knew that the in my survivor-mode I did not have the courage to fight that public battle of reporting the incident. I did not have the courage to look my father in the face and say "this happened to me, your little girl." I did not have the courage to tell my mother that I was now blemished for life.
Over the years I have had the courage to tell exactly 3 people: my best friend at the time, my therapist (the hiring of which was to deal with the assault after my best friend pushed and prodded me to get desperately needed help to deal with it after I spent several months sleeping in a closet with the lights on), and my now husband. It was difficult to tell each of them, though none of them judged, thank God. But as #metoo has spread, my husband continues to express shock as to how many people he knows who are "coming out", if you will, who he had no idea had endured such issues. When I tried to explain to him that probably half the women he knows has had some kind of issue, he blew it off as an exaggeration. This is my own husband, a man who believes in women, who respects women, who supports me, always and unconditionally, and who is appalled that there is so much of this out there. Yet, he is oblivious as to the scope of the problem and can't imagine it's really as big as I'm trying to tell him it is.
And as powerful as #metoo is, over of the last few days I've read the comment boards & I've heard some of the discussion (mostly, but not entirely from men) that the women in Hollywood knew exactly what they were doing and they made millions off "enduring" (used with easily identified sarcasm) the advances. That women get ahead by lying on their backs and spreading their legs every day and that all women do it one way or another to advance their careers. That "what did they expect, going to his room"? The mentality that "maybe women should go to all Dr., professional, etc. appointments with a friend" if they can't handle it on their own. How about those in power simply not rape women... has anyone ever thought of that?! The ignorance and disrespect spewed by these comments, and the fact that so many people truly believe this crap is exactly why I will never come forward as a #metoo survivor. I've struggled with the pain of the assault and have come out as a stronger woman.
And as sad as it is, this doesn't even touch on the sexual harassment I've endured, both as a teenager, college student and professional. I've had a college professor offer me a better grade for a "favor" (I got up and walked out of his office without saying a word). I've had a judge tell me, off the record of course, that he "didn't care what I wore as long as it was a skirt," and then proceeded into court to argue my case. I had the same judge proudly tell me about how he was directly responsible for hiring the stripper for the annual county bar association meeting many years ago even though the few women of the bar were highly offended. I've had male professionals make highly inappropriate comments to me, even suggesting we take a sauna together, "just joking, of course". I've been in rooms with clients that made my skin crawl, thankful the exit door was only a foot away. I've had male clients tell me "I know where you live" and not because they were my neighbor or had any other reason to know, and not in any context that could be construed as anything but creepy. I've had the CEO of a client specifically ask how my sex life is, and when I tried to change the subject, he went into a detailed story about some sex scene in a movie he saw. I had a male colleague pursue me almost to the point of stalking, only backing off when I loudly proclaimed to another lawyer in his presence that I both own and happen to be a pretty good shot with both a shotgun and a rifle (and thankfully I am). I've been stalked by an ex-suitor, to the point that I slept with said shotgun under my bed for several months.
None of these incidents have been reported. Who would I tell and what difference would it make anyways? And frankly, do I really want some idiots out there blaming me, telling me that it all benefited my career so who cares if I had to endure a few crude jokes. I'm thankful that none of these incidents were by my superiors or co-workers so I've never had to decide whether to keep my mouth shut to keep my job. I just kept my mouth shut because of shame, embarrassment and the knowledge that what I deal with isn't any different what most women in our country deal with at some point in their lives. That somehow this is just what it means to be a woman and I can either let it roll off my back or I can be bothered by every incident.
In fairness, not all incidents are the same and some are significantly more traumatic than others, and I've dealt with each one differently. I never saw my assaulter again, which means that I've walked away from friendships with mutual friends without explanation. The judge has retired. I made sure to never be alone in a room with the CEO again. I now own a pistol, which is tucked away in my bedroom (which was a gift courtesy of my husband). I've grown older, grayer and now carry a "don't f*#! with me" confidence. But I am not ready to be judged by strangers for actions others have taken toward me (that I didn't even get a say in). I am not ready to break my father's heart by letting him know that I was harmed so seriously as to require months of therapy to stop sleeping in a closet with the lights on. I'm not ready to be accused of making professional advances for any reason other than the fact that I've worked my tail off to get here. And for that, I am not nearly as courageous as all of those willing to admit that they, like me, know we belong to #metoo .
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