Predator Exposure

Why does it seem that certain people can only find a way to be empathetic toward the plight of women if they imagine that the woman who has experienced trauma is someone they are close to? Shouldn’t the realization that they are a fellow human in pain be enough to make them care?

One year after the #MeToo movement took off, new NPR-Ipsos polls show the nation deeply divided on sexual assault and harassment, with fissures running more along party lines than gender.

Most — 69 percent — of more than 1,000 Americans surveyed, say the movement has created a climate in which offenders will now be held accountable. But more than 40 percent feel the movement has gone too far.

What exactly “too far” means wasn’t defined in the surveys. But in follow-up conversations, several respondents cited a rush to judgment, the prospect of unproven accusations ruining peoples’ careers or reputations, and a bandwagon effect that may prompt some to claim sexual misconduct for behavior that doesn’t quite rise to that level.

On whether alleged victims of sexual assault should get the benefit of the doubt, 85 percent of Democrats agree, compared to 67 percent of Republicans. That party gap is nearly twice the size of the gender gap.

On #MeToo, Americans More Divided By Party Than Gender

This is one of the most important life lessons out there and it took me far too long to learn. Stitch up a reminder for yourself with this abstract floral pattern done in soft pastels.

Read this. Get angry. Be heartbroken. Because i was never allowed out alone without my brother. Because even now, i have to walk with my friends on campus. Because i was biking back to my dorm from a friends apartment, and got chased over 3/4s of the way back, and was told i shouldnt have been alone. Because i hung out with a guy friend i thought would never hurt me, and got raped. Because public safety has to send out warnings aimed at girls because so often after dark they get calls asking for escorts to their dorms “for convienence”. Because i have 2 things of pepper spray and still dont feel safe alone at night. Because i can never leave food or drink alone. Because if i go anywhere i have to have a safety buddy just in case. Because my favorite time of day is at night, and i cant enjoy it without being in a group of girls. Because i check that my door and window are locked multiple times every night. Because my dorm sent an email telling us not to take our trash out at night because there are trees by the dumpster. Because i had class one day, and boys were asked what safety precautions they took when they went out at night, and they said NOTHING, while girls responses filled the entire board.

Read this and get angry, because women and girls everywhere should not have to be in a constant state of fear and apprehension and hypervigilace all day and all night. Read this and get angry because this isnt right. Read this and get angry, because its about time something changed.

This is not acceptable at all.