Sexual Assault Awareness

in Anne with an E

Proud purple-loving Josie Pye was sexually harassed by Billy who she was supposed to get married to. During the County fair dance in season 3 episode 6, he lured Josie outside with the pretense of discussing their future together and started making advances. Josie refused and tried to convince him she'd love to return to the dance but he pressed on defiantly. Josie eventually runs away, but when she returns to the crowd she's in obvious disorientation. Billy returned to the dance and started spreading rumors that Josie was so eager that she couldn't wait for their marriage. The tiny community followed this narrative and Josie's reputation was ruined. It was even worse because marriages then were out of economic benefits, not for love. The victim-blaming ruined her father's chances of being enriched? Or influential?

No one aside Anne paid attention to Josie's assault, they were all too busy calling her rubbish.

poor Josie in distress as her mother neglected her pains

If they were married, it probably would have been considered marital assault or marital rape. Saying "I do" isn't consent. And even if Billy didn't spread that rumor, something within Josie was already affected. Her mind and body violated by someone she hoped to trust?

It's sexual assault awareness month, I'd be debunking certain myths about this crime.

"But he didn't rape her." Sexual Assault ranges from sexual harassment such as catcalling to rape or sexual exploitation. Following the definition or description of sexual harassment

from Arise News

"But she liked him, she was almost getting married to him, it was bound to happen.". If it was bound to happen, it should have happened when both parties were consenting. Not when one was obviously fighting against it.

Moreover, they were children, children have no business with consent. That doesn't mean we'd excuse the existence of Child-on-child sexual abuse.

Child-on-child sexual abuse is when one child uses coercion, manipulation, or force to engage another child in sexual activity.

Josie was a victim of Child-on-child abuse. Oftentimes, this form of sexual assault is overlooked with the claims that the predator is unknowledgeable of good and bad.

"He's just a child."

"She's just 12."

Even when it has been established that children gain clarity of right and wrong from age 5. Child predators are left to roam and grow into worse humans. I say electric chair!

In the case of Mercy who was violated by 17-year-old Goodluck, he tried to murder her and raped her while she was unconscious and injured. Our progressive world decided to raise money for his rehabilitation.

Again, I say electric chair.

Or

The body part of the predator, child, or grown human that was used in harassing should be cut off.

Or

A firing squad should be assembled.

Another myth or misconception about sexual assault is that men, the male gender cannot be sexually harassed. Society behaves like it's an absurd thing. If I had a gun, I'd shoot society a thousand times. You communicate with men and hear stories of how that one aunt, or teacher , or uncle, or coursemate took advantage of them. Most of them don't speak about it because society will see them as weak and they confine this abuse exposing themselves to other forms of mental abuse.

If you have this mentality, you're an apologist and you deserve the same punishment given to predators.

To the victims:

As hard as it sounds, victim blaming doesn't usually help.

"If I had fought back...."

"My dress was appealing."

"I was being too friendly with her."

It was not your fault. It was never your fault.

Sometimes we find comfort in victim blaming and trauma protection, trying to make it seem like whatever we went through wasn't that serious or even to gaslight ourselves into thinking it didn't happen. It happened and you shouldn't subject yourself to more misery by blaming yourself.

Also, it helps to speak out or seek help. Half of the time, I was scared that people would ask questions or make comments like

"What were you wearing?"

"Why were you alone with him? Is that what your parents sent you to school to do?"

"But you people liked each other, maybe he was trying to initiate something".

I was groped by a boy I liked one time and I was too ashamed to speak of it to anyone. I tried to gaslight myself into thinking he mistakenly did it or it was a normal thing and I was just being uptight. I was scared that people would look at me with pity like I'm a fragile egg that can't protect itself. In the end, they did but I felt better opening up about it. It definitely still has some effects on the way I relate with the opposite gender, but I guess one step at a time yeah. Mind you it's not just one sexual harassment story. It's multiple.

So speak up. Find a support group and find help.

Speaking up is tricky too. Some people are absentmindedly bent on suggesting things you could have done to protect yourself from the situation like it's unavoidable.

Anne wrote an article in the newspaper about the assault and the “elders” were displeased with it

"Why didn't you scream?"

"You should have bitten him."

"You're a boy, how would you let a woman touch you that way?"

Stupid comments. Hopefully, I become president and we kill these people. Not educate or rehabilitate. Just eliminate. I am not a preacher of love, I preach war.

Justice for CweCwe and every other person who has been violated.