Moving away from merely existing and toward truly living means that we start to address the trauma caused by the predator(s) and the sexual violence they committed against us.

Don’t ever think that any of us are too small or weak or unknown to create meaningful societal change. We can start in our own daily lives.

Unfortunately, we’re not educated on the possible harms done to the pelvic floor and medical professionals only go by what they can see [and prove] - not assessing for possibility of unseen damage.

Having goals to achieve is important because it can help us focus on two things that we lose sight of after being attacked: the value we hold and the positive aspects of our lives.

Instead of focusing on mourning, we could celebrate surviving another year. This could look like having cake with candles…

Getting on a healthy path of wellness after victimization isn’t easy, but it’s worth it. And, it’s worth it because every single one of us is worth it.

Understanding how predators are created does not excuse their actions, but it does provide insight into prevention.

It’s natural to believe “my child would never do that.” But ignoring the possibility is dangerous. Every predator was is someone’s child.

We don’t talk enough about how confusing it can be to outlive our abusers/attackers. There's no rulebook for how to feel when the person who hurt us is no longer walking the earth.

Unsafe people are everywhere, not just lurking in dark corners or fitting some obvious "stranger danger" physical stereotype. In fact, the most dangerous individuals often present themselves as friendly, charming, and deeply empathetic.

For everyone is in the midst of the journey, know this: It’s okay to take your time. No one is slow or behind. No one is broken. We are all doing the best we can with what we have - and that is more than enough.

Because the burden of proof rests entirely on the state, “innocent until proven guilty” creates a maze of roadblocks and loopholes that allow predators to reoffend again and again. And, this has to stop.

The goal is simple, but urgent: to change how society is socialized to think about sexual violence. We need awareness that fuels education, and education that demands both social and legal reform.

Ride share services provide tremendous convenience and have high reliability of ensuring that we get to our intended final destination. However, they also provide a potential increased risk of sexual assault. That’s why we’re sharing information to help you keep yourself and your loved ones.

Mustering the courage to tell someone we trust and have them either not believe or blame us can be devastating. It’s the type of devastation that can slow down or even halt a person’s healing on their survivorship journey.

Accepting trauma without traditional justice doesn’t mean forgetting or condoning what was done to us. Instead, it means finding peace where possible and creating meaning despite pain.

Whether you are a survivor or an ally, working together to create safe, informed, and compassionate communities can transform survivorship from a fight for survival into a journey of empowerment and hope.

When we were met with compassion and understanding, our healing felt possible. When we weren’t believed, the hurt was devastating, creating shadows of shame and isolation we had to work hard to shake. But let’s remind ourselves: other people’s reactions do not define the truth of our experiences.

People often struggle to believe sexual assault survivors because of deep-rooted cultural, psychological, and systemic factors—many of which are sustained by centuries of misinformation, patriarchal power structures, and societal denial.

Explore how trauma caused sexual assault or abuse can affect work life. In this week's GOTU blog post we dive into how support, self-care, and community help survivors improve wellness, reclaim confidence, and thrive. None of us is alone in this battle. And getting better while working is possible, one step at a time.