'Why I Didn't Report' tweets floods Twitter after Trump's attack on Dr. Christine Blasey Ford

Community

Friday September 21, 2018 · 1:14 PM PDT

2018/09/21 · 13:14

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 01: A participant attends the 3rd Annual Amber Rose SlutWalk on October 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Chelsea Guglielmino/Getty Images) — A participant attends the 3rd Annual Amber Rose SlutWalk on October 1, 2017, in Los Angeles, California.

Donald Trump thinks Dr. Christine Blasey Ford couldn’t have been sexually assaulted because she didn’t report Brett Kavanaugh for allegedly assaulting her when it happened.

I have no doubt that, if the attack on Dr. Ford was as bad as she says, charges would have been immediately filed with local Law Enforcement Authorities by either her or her loving parents. I ask that she bring those filings forward so that we can learn date, time, and place!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 21, 2018

What Trump makes explicit is implicit in how survivors of assault are treated, covered, and discussed every day. After Trump tweeted, survivors responded with #WhyIDidntReport. The selection below proves there’s rarely just one reason. There are, however, common themes—every one of which can be cured by believing people when they report sexual assault.

Because it was a “friend” or a family member.

I was afraid to tell, I believed he would hurt me more than he already had, I was in preschool, he was a relative. #WhyIDidntReport
— Tracy DC (@TracyCloutier2) September 21, 2018

#WhyIDidntReport. I was 7 years old, she was my mom's best friend. I didn't want my mom to lose her best friend, and I didn't want to be known as a rape victim. So many thoughts go thru a 7 years old head once molested...took me over 20 years to be strong enough to come forward
— K. Matthew Thomas (@KMatthewThomas) September 21, 2018

Because he was a member of our family
Because I was a child and didn't think anyone would believe me
Because I didn't have the vocabulary about what was happening to me.
Because I did not receive any education about consent #WhyIDidntReport #sexed
— Farrah Khan (@farrahsafiakhan) September 21, 2018

I was 17. Raped by a friend. I was confused. In denial. Afraid. His parents were richer & better connected than my parents. He was a "good" student. Ppl liked him. The only friend I told--responded w: "He wld never do that." I didn't think anyone would help me. #WhyIDidntReport https://t.co/YbCuIMg07M
— Abigail Hauslohner (@ahauslohner) September 21, 2018

He was one of my best friends; I'd said no before and thought he respected it. Nothing "really" happened: I started vomiting first. When I finally told a teacher, she laughed it off. Later he bragged he'd "relieved" 18 women of their virginity in college. #WhyIDidntReport
— RPBP Ã°ÂÂÂ³Ã¯Â¸ÂÃ¢ÂÂÃ°ÂÂÂ (@rpbp) September 21, 2018

Because rape culture normalizes sexual assault and discourages reporting.

A sorority sister of mine convinced me that it Ã¢ÂÂwasnÃ¢ÂÂt that badÃ¢ÂÂ, that it would be my word against his, that bringing it up and making a big deal out of it would impact our sororityÃ¢ÂÂs Ã¢ÂÂstanding on campusÃ¢ÂÂ. I wish I knew then how little any of that matters now. #WhyIDidntReport
— Molly (@MollyRHart) September 21, 2018

I was 19. With a terrifying look in his eyes, he pinned me down, grabbed both my wrists with 1 hand & tried to unbutton my pants with another. I kicked him as hard as I could in the crotch and ran out. He didnÃ¢ÂÂt actually rape me so I thought Ã¢ÂÂnothingÃ¢ÂÂ happened. #WhyIDidntReport
— Meredith Salenger (@MeredthSalenger) September 21, 2018

#WhyIDidntReport I told my roommate what happened, showed her my bruises after she asked me why I was acting so weird. She made me sit with her while she called him to ask if he really raped me. He denied it. She refused to "take a side"
— Penny Jierce (@JennyThePierce) September 21, 2018

Because embarrassment, denial, and natural coping mechanisms are powerful.

When I was 16, I had pretty much the same experience as Ford. My (supportive & loving) parents still don't know. At the time, I thought I might get in trouble for being there in the first place & also I was embarrassed & wanted badly to just forget. I never did. #WhyIDidntReport
Ã¢ÂÂ maura quint (@behindyourback) September 21, 2018

#WhyIDidntReport

Because I was scared
Because I was ashamed
Because I did not want to lose my job
Because I am traumatized
Because nobody will believe me
Because it wasnÃ¢ÂÂt a big deal
Because I deserved it
Because I get anxiety
Because somebody may harm me again
Ã¢ÂÂ Danny Deraney (@DannyDeraney) September 21, 2018

Because of power, privilege, and fear. Threats both explicit and implicit.

There were 5 other rich, white boys in my boyfriend's college frat room.
I was poor white trash on a scholarship.
I was drunk and drugged and passed around like a fucking bong.
Like a game of hot potato.
I thought he loved me.
I was embarrassed and scared.#WhyIDidntReport https://t.co/CtJekvDFD9
— Holly Figueroa O'Reilly (@AynRandPaulRyan) September 21, 2018

I was 16. He was the 32 year old youth pastor at a friends church. I was trying to find purpose in life, what I found was that no one has good intentions. He had an entire community behind him, and a family with kids. I converted from that religion. #whyididntreport
— timebeets (@timebeets) September 21, 2018

Because my boyfriend told me he would actually kill me if I left him or if I told anyone and when someone beats you, you believe them. I didn't want to die. #WhyIDidntReport
— Lizz Ã¢ÂÂ65 women like me too" Winstead (@lizzwinstead) September 21, 2018

Because of discrimination.

#WhyIDidntReport my sexual assault.

I was living in a time when someone who identified as a gay teenager would NOT be taken seriously by the police.

I believed that I would be mocked & ridiculed for being gay.

I also felt it was MY fault.

I didn't think they would believe me.
— Peter Morley (@morethanmySLE) September 21, 2018

Because I was coming into my own sexuality and I thought people would connect sexuality and molestation. And they did. #WhyIDidntReport
— PrestonMitchum (@PrestonMitchum) September 21, 2018

Because our institutions weren’t there for us—or discouraged us or attacked us.

a #WhyIDidntReport story in 2 screenshots: the email I sent in Feb. 2011, and the response I received last month pic.twitter.com/IQubRi7FAs
— kate conger (@kateconger) September 21, 2018

I got 2 consecutive restraining orders against an MIT professor, the 1st of which he forced an evidentiary hearing w his own character witnesses & full cross examination of me on the stand, he wasn't disciplined at all.
I was 21. He was 34.
Why do that ever again#WhyIDidntReport
— Katie Moussouris (@k8em0) September 21, 2018

I was raped once after college and I didn't report to the police because...well...is @tuftsuniversity didn't care I was raped, why would any other powerful institution do it? #WhyIDidntReport
— Wagatwe Wanjuki (@wagatwe) September 21, 2018

Because the justice system wasn’t, or isn’t, there for us.

I was told TexasÃ¢ÂÂ statute of limitations had passed, and I had no criminal legal recourse.#WhyIDidntReport
— Charlotte ClymerÃ°ÂÂÂ³Ã¯Â¸ÂÃ¢ÂÂÃ°ÂÂÂ (@cmclymer) September 21, 2018

#WhyIDidntReport I was molested in 2nd grade. By the time I had the courage to tell someoneÃ¢ÂÂ20 years laterÃ¢ÂÂthe statute of limitations had expired. I couldnÃ¢ÂÂt seek justice in the court of law but in speaking my truth I was finally able to start healing.

Fuck you @realDonaldTrump.
— Ryan Knight #BlueWave2018 Ã°ÂÂÂ (@ProudResister) September 21, 2018

Because we knew what could happen if we reported.

I didnÃ¢ÂÂt tell anyone because I invited him back to my apartment so I could continue to get to know him - I knew IÃ¢ÂÂd be blamed. And when I finally wrote about it, thatÃ¢ÂÂs exactly what happened. #WhyIDidntReport
— Gillibranded Content (@nandelabra) September 21, 2018

#WhyIDidntReport. The first time it happened, I was 7. I told the first adults I came upon. They said Ã¢ÂÂOh, heÃ¢ÂÂs a nice old man, thatÃ¢ÂÂs not what he meant.Ã¢ÂÂ So when I was raped at 15, I only told my diary. When an adult read it, she accused me of having sex with an adult man.
— ashley judd (@AshleyJudd) September 21, 2018

You know #WhyIDidntReport? Because when I finally did, I lost my athletic scholarship and had to drop out of school.
— daisy? (@taisydackett) September 21, 2018

One more thing. I would say that at least 100 women have personally told me about being raped or seriously sexually assaulted over the years. ONE went to police. She'd just been attacked by strangers & beaten & she STILL had to fight to get the cops to help her. #WhyIDidntReport
— Sandra Newman (@sannewman) September 21, 2018

I did report. I was active duty army and was labeled a liar. I was too afraid to admit that I had been drinking at 18 even though he was the one handing me one after the other. The trauma led to my downfall and eventual discharge. No record of the assault. #WhyIDidntReport
— Georgia (@Mrs_Silva25) September 21, 2018

And because we knew what probably wouldn’t happen even if we did report it.

Why don't women report? An Anchorage man who just strangled a woman unconscious and masturbated on her then pled guilty isn't going to serve any time because the judge thinks he won't do it again. https://t.co/oN7mJ12nGM #WhyIDidntReport
— Shannon Coulter (@shannoncoulter) September 21, 2018

I reported once when I was 14 and he was a decade my senior, three years in prison was waived down to three years of probation. the rape kit, investigation, and aftermath were traumatic. there was no point in trying to report anything that happened after that. #WhyIDidntReport
— rant casey Ã°ÂÂÂ¹ (@comrade_lecter) September 21, 2018

1. I did report. The cops let him off w/a stern talking to, a pat on the back & a promise not to do it again. Ã°ÂÂÂ Bc they "didn't want his wife upset with him" & "he's a NG Reservist, sooo..."

I was 16. We women learn our 2nd-class citizenship early & well.#WhyIDidntReport
— LdM BeachGirl (@LdM_BeachGirl) September 21, 2018

For each story you read, remember that there are many more.

For every person you see sharing #WhyIDidntReport know that there scores of men and women who are still afraid to tell their story. Sexual assault is so much more common than we want to believe.
Ã¢ÂÂ TheBloggess (@TheBloggess) September 21, 2018

The #WhyIDidntReport tweets are powerful, but please understand that those are only coming from people comfortable about talking about what happened to them in some way. There are many people who are still silent. This represents just a portion of the problem we face as a society
Ã¢ÂÂ Christina Reynolds (@creynoldsnc) September 21, 2018

This content was created by a Daily Kos Community member.

Make YOUR voice heard!

'Why I Didn't Report' tweets floods Twitter after Trump's attack on Dr. Christine Blasey Ford

Comments are closed on this story.