By now, everyone has heard the audio clips of Donald Trump boasting about grabbing women by their pussies and being able to do so because he is famous. The tape is horrifying on many levels, but the reality is that women deal with unwanted sexual advances on a regular basis.
Author Kelly Oxford took to Twitter to ask women to share their experiences with sexual assault and started by sharing her own.
Please tweet me your sexual assaults, they are #notokay
— kelly oxford (@kellyoxford) October 8, 2016
My 3rd assault was by dermatologist, made me undress in his office closet. Age 14
Within minutes, thousands of women responded.
I am currently receiving 2 sex assault stories per second. Anyone denying rape culture, please look at my timeline now. #notokay
— kelly oxford (@kellyoxford) October 7, 2016
women have tweeted me sexual assault stories for 14 hours straight. Minimum 50 per minute. harrowing. do not ignore. #notokay
— kelly oxford (@kellyoxford) October 8, 2016
The tweets are heartbreaking and scary.
https://twitter.com/jayasax/status/784554050566103040
Men jumped in and many seemed shocked by what they were reading. “Horrifying. I’m so sorry you had to endure this. I had no idea assault was so sickeningly common. Thanks for opening my eyes,” said one.
Kelly’s Twitter feed has become a place where women are openly sharing their stories, some for the first time. She also shared this important message.
Many women have shared their sex assaults tonight. If you need to talk to someone please call RAINN 800.656.HOPE (4673)
— kelly oxford (@kellyoxford) October 8, 2016
Kelly is right. It’s #notokay.