Thursday, March 10, 2011
I was sexually assaulted by my best friend's brother around the age of 11. He was about 15. He would show me Playboy & Hustler & then suggest I show him what I had and/or play with his. One sleep over with my friend, he took me to his room & proceeded to assault me. I was so naive I really didn't know what was happening & so vulnerable due to family & school issues that I was actually grateful someone was paying attention to me. When I did finally tell my parents, they swept it under the rug & nothing was done. I was even encouraged to still go over to my friend's house. They never tried to help me deal with it or get counseling - they just refused to acknowledge it for reasons I won't go in to here.
I have also survived religious intolerance in many different ways; verbal & emotional abuse in marriage; harassment in the workplace due to faith practice; familial & cultural expectations that don't fit me. I have seen the effects of racial prejudice up close. But out of all of this, I know I am stronger than I was raised to be, more capable than many of my generation, overflowing with compassion for those that have no one, a woman to be reckoned with, a voice never to be silenced again.
I have also survived religious intolerance in many different ways; verbal & emotional abuse in marriage; harassment in the workplace due to faith practice; familial & cultural expectations that don't fit me. I have seen the effects of racial prejudice up close. But out of all of this, I know I am stronger than I was raised to be, more capable than many of my generation, overflowing with compassion for those that have no one, a woman to be reckoned with, a voice never to be silenced again.
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