The Rape Joke
I went to a comedy show last weekend. It took me a long time to convince myself to go, as a theatre isn’t really a good place for a person who is scared of the dark, large crowds, and confined
A House in the Sky
I hated myself more. Why are these words burning themselves into my brain, echoing in my ears? Because it's how I felt. I look back at the passage and realized I need only replace two words: 'Abdullah' with my rapist's name, and 'Somalia' with 'the party' and this is just a beautifully written account of what I was thinking for the years that followed my first rape – and to be perfectly honest, haunt me today.
Innocent Until Proven Guilty
“Innocent until proven guilty” is a term often used to protect the accused. When people say “I won’t make a decision until I have all of the evidence”, what evidence are they looking for? Not taking a side is taking a
Anna’s Story: I Didn’t Think Twice
I may have been intoxicated but I KNEW this was not what I wanted.
I asked him to stop, and unlike so many other stories, he actually did.
Because of this, I never considered it rape.
I still don't even know what to call it.
But I know it wasn't right.
I know it wasn't consensual and I know he took advantage of me.
Heather’s Story: March 1 (19, College Freshman)
I woke up naked, confused, and with a blaring headache. Next to me is this guy, naked as well. I check my phone, it's 5 a.m. I get up and leave. I call a friend, because I'm alone and scared. He said, "you know how you get when you drink. I doubt it was for
Jan Huang and the Case Against Pick-Up Artists
Jan Huang is a self-proclaimed pick-up artist in Vancouver. He charges around $1,000 for a 3 day ‘boot camp’ where he tries to teach men confidence, social skills, and the art of picking up women. Jan has now been accused of
Anonymous Story: S&M (Sexism & Manipulation)
The commonalities I have with the other brave women who have come forward are what made me realize how wrong it all was. Reading the stories was like having my mind read. I sunk deeper with feelings of guilt and disgust. I was part of an intricate web woven by a man who was manipulative and powerful. I fell for every carefully constructed, tried and true line he fed me. He played his game with me as he played it with so many women before me. I was another woman to add to his collection.
After I shared
Like a lot of survivors who have shared their stories, I had no idea what to expect afterwords. I had drafted up my story in October, shortly after I was interviewed for an article by The Canadian Press. My uncle,
It’s Never Okay – The Plan
Kathleen Wynne and the Government of Ontario have released an action plan to solve a major issue: sexual assault and harassment. This action plan is titled “It’s Never Okay”. It’s 40 pages long, and is available in plain English (and