This might not get any notes or attention, that’s not the point. I just needed to stand up and speak out about it because it’s important to me and I’m truly hoping that it’s important to some of you out there in this wonderful community as well.
Thousands upon thousands of people use this site. Some do so initially to see what all the fuss is about but most stay because it’s an avenue to be yourself; to connect with others that share the same interests and opinions. For me, it has been a place to grow into who I am. To figure out what I like and what I want and to connect with others that have been or are struggling with the same things I have faced. One of these things being rape, exploitation, abuse.
To my fellow survivors, I don’t think I’m alone in saying that it puts salt in numerous wounds to scroll through your dashboard constantly seeing this blazing word set fire to so many posts. As if it was simply a word of no consequence and not a catastrophic event in our lives. Not something we’ve had to rebuild ourselves from.
To those of you who haven’t faced this trauma and the resulting blows to your person, both physical and emotional, it’s not something I would ever hope for you to understand.But I’m hoping there are at least some of you out there with enough empathy to realize the amount of pain a small word can and does cause others. For some it will be a trigger snapping into place, a reason to hurt themselves or a reason to not fight the memories anymore and allow them to swallow up all the progress they’ve made. For others it will be another sleepless night or a reason to not view tumblr as a safe place to escape from the terror they’ve experienced. And for some it will be the push over the edge that they’ve been waiting for, the one they won’t recover from. Because this word will never just be a simple four letter word for those who have felt the abrasive assault of it in action.
What’s more, it will never just be a simple four letter word to the people that choose to exploit and harm. Every rape joke and turn of phrase that belittles the horribleness of the act promotes the action. These people see it as an excuse, even an encouragement. Some are mentally unstable but some just want a reason to give into what they want to do, who they want to hurt. And you’re giving it to them.
So, if you understand how heinous rape is, please take the time and have the empathy to understand how heinous jokes and negligent usage of the word is as well. And please take a stand against rape culture on Tumblr so that this is a welcoming and safe community for all of us.
Odds are, you know a survivor even if they haven’t confided in you. I don’t think anyone would want to be responsible for causing a friend more trauma and more pain after they’ve already lived through and endured so much. Show your support because I can assure you, they desperately need every ounce of support and encouragement they can possibly receive. Even if they’re not in a place to ask for it.
If you do want to spread the word by reblogging this, please leave the text and the following message as well: If you are a survivor, if you’re struggling, I’m here. I listen and I give advice and it will never be something I do in order to garner popularity. I know what it’s like to live with the weight of being exploited and harmed and the only light I have ever seen at the end of this tunnel is to help as many people as I can possibly help. You can message me at absolutely any time about anything here. I will never post anything you don’t want posted.
