If you pay attention at all to social media, you will know that April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Teal colored ribbons will be everywhere, and more people than usual will be talking about it. I certainly try to hit it hard during April, but I know in my heart this is an issue that needs to be talked about 12 months out of the year, not just in April.
At the Oscars this year, the movie, “Spotlight” won for best picture. Personally, I was thrilled! This win will bring more awareness to the issue of sexual assault and abuse.
There are stories popping up all over the news of different cases of sexual assault and abuse. The Bill Cosby case is one that comes to mind and is still ongoing. The response I’ve personally witnessed from others is initial horror at something so awful, followed by the thought of how could people do something like this, then just moving on until another story pops up. Is that because it hasn’t personally touched their lives?
There’s “awareness” of differing degrees, and I often wonder if people think about WHERE this assault/abuse takes place. From the movie “Spotlight”, we know it’s been in the Catholic church, but the truth is, it happens EVERYWHERE. It happens in homes, ALL types of churches, schools, after school clubs, church youth groups, boy scouts, girl scouts, swim clubs, dance clubs, choir groups, dorms, and sadly, the list can go on and on. It happens down the street, to the rich, the poor, and the middle class.
Are you “A-WHERE”?
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