She Speaks Blog

Why is sexual abuse taboo? ___ Par Fatimata Keita Sexual abuse has always been taboo, in every society and community. Along the taboo of those acts, the fault is often projected towards the victim rather than the abuser. Thankfully, today the discussion is slowly but (hopefully) taking a different turn! And with the activism, strength and work of many women and men, the shame (and blame) is going towards the other side. In a community where sex before marriage is prohibited,

While sexual harassment was considered “hush hush” and swept under the rug for generations, we are lucky to live in a time where not only are victims speaking out, but there are foundations and movements that are actively fighting against rape and sexual misconduct. One of these movements is, as many know, the #MeToo movement. This movement was founded in 2006, and its goal has been to make survivors feel heard and understood, and ultimately, to spur change (North, 2o19). Wha

Feminism - it is defined by Merriam Webster as "the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities" (Dastagir, 2018). However, many people see feminists as women who only support women - therefore insinuating that they believe women are better than men. And, yes, while there may be women and feminists out there who do believe this to be true, this is not the essence of feminism. Those who call themselves “feminists” are most often in favor of reaching eq

April is sexual assault awareness month. Although it is a topic not too often discussed, strides have been made in attempts to bring survivor’s stories to light, bring justice to those affected, and stop sexual assault from happening altogether. College campuses hold events like “Take Back the Night”, where students silently walk around campus, join hands, and share survivor stories to let those affected know they are loved and supported. Movements like the #MeToo movement ha