Gabrielle Union — a rape survivor — spoke about sexual assault in a powerful series of tweets
If anything can be considered a silver lining amidst the horrific allegations against Harvey Weinstein, it’s that so many women have felt empowered to share their experiences of assault and harassment. And actress Gabrielle Union, a survivor of rape, just took to Twitter to take a stance on sexual abuse and victim blaming, and her words are important for everyone to read.
On Sunday afternoon, Union started a Twitter thread explaining that sexual assault can happen to anyone. This isn’t just a Hollywood issue.
"Ppl remain silent 4 many different very personal reasons," Union continued. "Judgment, victim shaming/blaming, loss of job/$, fear of violence, retaliation."
Sexual violence & harassment can happen to anyone at anytime anywhere.
— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) October 15, 2017
Ppl remain silent 4 many different very personal reasons. Judgment, victim shaming/blaming, loss of job/$, fear of violence, retaliation
— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) October 15, 2017
Folks are also very open and obvious about what kind of victim should be prioritized & believed. To think otherwise is to be willfully dim
— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) October 15, 2017
She tweeted that sexual violence should never be “the price one should pay for seeking or maintaining employment. Period.”
In Hollywood meetings in homes, hotel lobbies/restaurants/suites, private isolated office space is the norm. NO ONE "ASKED FOR IT!!"
— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) October 15, 2017
Sexual or physical violence, harassment, demeaning language is NOT the price one should pay for seeking or maintaining employment. Period
— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) October 15, 2017
Before she was a professional actress, Union herself was the victim of a traumatizing sexual assault, and she knows all too well what victims of assault and harassment can go through in the aftermath of their attack.
That includes victims being interrogated about what they were wearing, if they were drinking, if they had somehow led the person on…
Reminder. I got raped at work at a Payless shoe store. I had on a long tunic & leggings so miss me w/ "dress modestly" shit.
— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) October 15, 2017
Though I was raped by a stranger who raped me at gunpoint after robbing the store, I was still asked by a female "friend" what I had worn
— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) October 15, 2017
Look around, u can EASILY see whose pain is "real/valid" & must be addressed & whose pain is tolerable, unimportant & systematically ignored
— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) October 15, 2017
Unions’s message is critical now more than ever, because so many women are finally feeling safe enough to share their stories, and it is crucial that they are both respected and believed.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault or violence, you can contact the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673).
