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EVERYDAY FEMINISM

Why Sexual Assault Survivors Stay Quiet

by Jim C. Hines
Choosing whether or not to report sexual assault shouldn’t be a matter of choosing the lesser of two evils. But it is. Staying silent often means the issue is never addressed, but when survivors speak up, they’re met with blame and skepticism. They can’t win.
This comic by Jim C. Hines perfectly captures how unfair and harmful this double standard is.
Why We Stay Quiet

Click for the Transcript

[Panel 1: A stick figure on the left side of the panel is standing with their elbows bent and arms pointing up. The stick figure says “Bob Smith groped my breasts at Generi-con last month.” To the right of the figure there are 7 sets of text. They read: “Why are you trying to ruin Bob’s reputation?” “Another man condemned without trial in the court of internet opinion.” “Which hunt!” “Online lynch mob!” “I’ve never seen bob harass anyone!” “That’s not really harassment. It’s just Bob being Bob.” “Ridiculous gossip.”]
[Panel 2: The stick figure, unchanged in appearance or pose, says “I was sexually harassed last month, but I’d prefer not to name names.” Text to the right of the figure read: “How can I judge the situation if you won’t be specific?” “If you were really harassed, you’d give the details.” “These vague and nebulous references are worse than useless.” “If you don’t name names, you’re responsible if he does it again!”]
[Panel 3: This time the stick figure is shown with their arms down at their sides and their head hung. They are silent. The text to the right reads: “She’s not saying anything. That must mean nothing happened.” “I haven’t heard about all this sexual harassment. It must not really be a problem.” “If this is so widespread, why don’t more women speak out?” “Why on earth would a woman be afraid to report harassment?” “Oh, good. Can we get back to talking about real problems now?”]

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Jim C. Hines is best known as a fantasy novelist and the guy who did those gender-flipped SF/F cover poses. He’s currently working on the Magic ex Libris books, which follow the adventures of a magic-wielding librarian from northern Michigan. He’s also the author of more than forty published short stories. Jim is an active blogger about topics ranging from sexism and harassment to zombie-themed Christmas carols, and won the Hugo Award for Best Fan Writer in 2012. He has an undergraduate degree in psychology and a Masters in English, and works for the State of Michigan. Follow him on Twitter @jimchines.

About Jim C. Hines

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