RAPE

Last year, I had a conversation with a rape victim. She was not sure whether to share her story or not, her fear was that people would not believe her.

I explained to her that I would be unfair to say I would believe her even before she tells me the story. Of course, I could believe her. I also told her the real issue was even about me, it’s about her and the system that has made people like her to always worry about whether they would be believed or not and by her silence, she’s supporting the system. Silence is a support for the status quo. She must speak and tell her story, whether people believed her or not, it happened! She owes it to those who are coming behind to break the thickness of this deeply patriarchal society that questions everything. By retreating and accessing whether or not she would be believed, she’s empowering the system.

We don’t collapse systems by being indifferent. We collapse systems by confronting them.

Rape is wrong. I would not lie that I know what it feels to hold on to these sad stories for many years, but I know that by remaining silent you are empowering the society that makes rape possible. You are empowering whoever raped you. And you are contributing in making sure that rape victims continue to remain victimized.

You can change the conversation. You can change this very society that makes you hold on to these sad stories.

Sorry if you’ve ever been raped. May you find healing.