I don’t want your pity. I want your awareness. I want you to know you are not alone.
**Trigger warning for some **
Do you know?
Do you know you used your power to take advantage?
Do you know the playing field was not even?
Do you know boundaries are in place for a reason?
Do you know the damage you caused?
Do you know?
Do you know it’s inappropriate for a therapist to encourage a client to hug you as part of therapy?
Do you know it’s even creepier when the client doesn’t feel comfortable and shamed for not?
Do you know she was young, and it took her years to realize that was very wrong?
Do you know that creepy comments, that were in a gray area were confusing to her?
Do you know?
Do you know college instructor, that I was just asking for help in Algebra?
Do you know it didn’t cross my mind that you wouldn’t be professional?
Do you know that I did not want your phone number or to be hit on?
Do you know it took years to realize how wrong it was?
Do you know?
Do you know that I was there to work?
Do you know that I was there to be respected, like a human?
Do you know how wrong it was to tell me to lighten up?
Do you know I had respect for myself, and I was not a prude?
Do you know?
Do you know pastor, that I did not appreciate your comments?
Do you know being called a “pretty dish with nothing inside” is an insult?
Do you know I did not need to hear that “God was giving you control” of your urges?
Do you know how sick it was to say, especially to a teen-aged girl?
Do you know it took me years to realize that and not blame myself for your comments?
Do you know?
Do you know that every single woman reading this has had similar experiences?
Do you know that other genders aren’t immune to this either?
Do you know that many of us have not and will never speak up?
Do you know this could be happening to someone you care now about as I write this?
Do you know you are not alone? You have a voice.
100% I feel bad for the younger generations. Maybe they are more vocal than mine was. Then there is online harassment too, genders. I think what was the most difficult for me were they were people I went to or sent to for help. The creeps around us aren't in dark alleys, they are hiding in plain sight. They can be teachers, bosses, priests, even therapists...
Louder for the people in the back!! I'm so glad you posted this!