Much Has Changed or Has it?

After reading the second chapter of Howard Zinn’s  “A People’s History of The United States”,  I can’t stop thinking about the many women and children who experience sexual abuse or assault in our so called more educated and moral society compared with that of the early colonies.  You may be wondering what does sexual abuse and assault have to do with chapter two on racism? I draw your attention to account of Robert Sweat a white man who impregnated an African American slave. (p.30) Robert Sweat was “punished” by being forced to do public penance for his offense of creating a child with a black woman.  The woman was tied to a whipping post and beat for her transgression. As I have a very tender place within my heart for women and children who suffer the atrocities of sexual abuse and assault, my mind began to contemplate the situation.  I highly doubt the woman had any real choice in whether or not to lay with her white master.  This thought lead me to thinking about the lack of choice women and children are stilled faced with in situation where a man chooses to force himself upon his helpless victim.  Sadly, I can say no much has changed from that time in history until now in regards to sexual abuse and sexual assault.  The only thing real change is these atrocities are better hidden from the public eye. The terror, shame, humiliation, and ambivalence of being a victim of sexual abuse or assault has not changed one bit.  The individual assaulted is often “punished” more harshly than the perpetrator; society still often blames the victim. When will we realize, many victims have to choice of either allowing the perpetrator to do as he wills, or risk being completely annihilated? I know some might be thinking: What is her point? Why is she so passionate about this particular issue?  The simple answer, I have been a victim of both sexual abuse and assault, so the fear and anguish of such situations resonates throughout my entire soul.

I know some of you reading my post, would rather not know my personal horror story.  The reality is I had no real choice in what happened to me. So instead of wishing I would keep my “issues” to myself, maybe you should be blaming the ones who abused me, for the fact you have to deal with the reality that a woman you know has been sexually abused and assaulted.  Forcing survivors to keep silent, is just another way of punishing us for something we did not chose!!!