Why women who are sexually assaulted remain silent

[guillaumeb]

This is an older article, and the location is Canada, but perhaps this is a partial explanation for the silence in the face of abuse.

From the somewhat long article:

In one corner, there is a man with a famous voice; in the other, a group of women who have been, until now, silent. Everyone in the country, it seems, has an opinion about the allegations of violence that have been directed against former CBC radio star Jian Ghomeshi....

Around the country, people huffed in judgment. Why were the other women anonymous? Why hadn't they spoken earlier? Why had no one called the police? The judgmental brigade didn't consider that the 10 seconds it takes to type a condemnation on Twitter or Facebook is hardly comparable to the epic slog that "speaking up" actually entails – the courage it requires, and the commitment.

And also:

But it is a story about why women are often silent about the crimes of sexual violence committed against them. And why these reasons – which are internal and external, personal and cultural – are so similar wherever women are assaulted around the world. Which is to say, everywhere.

To read more:

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/why-women-who-are-sexually-assaulted-remain-silent/article21414605/

[guillaumeb]

1. More:

"The feeling of shame is so intense for rape victims that many never tell anyone what happened to them," writes Nancy Venable Raine in her powerful memoir, After Silence: Rape and My Journey Back. "I found it difficult not to feel ashamed when others reacted to me with embarrassment or discomfort. And this feeling of shame silenced me."

.

[safeinOhio]

2. Trust me, same reason

boys and men keep silent when victims.

[Puzzledtraveller]

3. I was abused, assaulted

no one but my wife knows, at 44 years old I don't think it will change either. I have often thought to myself what for, it would just upset my dad who is very old and he may start to feel like he failed me. That's just one of the reasons among many.

[safeinOhio]

6. Hope you have found peace.

Hard to come out about something you are having a hard time coming to terms with yourself. Took me over 40 years and one hell of a good shrink. Hard to imagine how different my life could have been.

[madville]

4. I think that is why women have been quiet about politicians until recently

They have had a fear that the rabid supporters from either side will tear them to shreds in order to discredit them. At the moment there is some safety in numbers though.

[Solly Mack]

5. K&R

[spartan61]

7. I was sexually assaulted several

times when I was about 12 years old by a neighbor. That was more than 50 years ago and this is the first time I am being vocal about it. I can honestly say I purposely didn't mention it to ANYONE, including my best friend. Why?? I was so afraid that if I told my parents, my dad would have killed the man. Who would have ended up in prison? My dad. I'm sure many of the young girls who are now speaking up, and didn't when it happened, remained silent for the very same reason I remained silent.