The Widespread Effects of Sexual Assault | Tilly Musser | TEDxYouth@AnnArbor

TEDx Talks
5 Jun 201907:24
EducationalLearning
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TLDRThe video script recounts a deeply personal journey of a survivor of sexual assault, who at age 12, learns of a close family member's rape and later experiences sexual abuse herself. The narrative details the emotional turmoil, the struggle for justice, and the aftermath of trauma, including PTSD and societal stigma. It highlights the need for greater awareness, education on toxic masculinity, and support for survivors. The speaker emphasizes the prevalence of sexual assault, the importance of challenging rape culture, and the responsibility to create a safer future for all, regardless of gender or age.

Takeaways
  • 😢 The impact of sexual assault is profound and can lead to severe psychological effects such as PTSD and depression.
  • 🏠 The family and close ones of a survivor also suffer, experiencing confusion and a sense of loss as the survivor withdraws.
  • 🗣️ Communication is often hindered in the aftermath of sexual assault, with survivors finding it difficult to talk about their experiences.
  • 📚 Education and understanding are crucial in recognizing and addressing the issue of sexual assault.
  • 💔 The process of reporting sexual assault can be re-traumatizing, with survivors being forced to recount their experiences multiple times.
  • 😡 The response to sexual assault from institutions can be inadequate, with perpetrators often facing minimal consequences.
  • 👗 The victim-blaming mentality is prevalent and deeply harmful, leading to self-doubt and feelings of guilt in survivors.
  • 🤔 The societal norms and gender roles contribute to a culture that can foster aggression and hyper-masculinity, which may play a role in sexual violence.
  • 🚫 The normalization of sexual assault in media and everyday conversations perpetuates a culture of silence and inaction.
  • 🌟 Support and allyship are vital for survivors, and anyone can contribute to positive change by educating themselves and standing against victim-blaming.
  • 📈 There is an urgent need for increased awareness and action to address the prevalence of sexual assault, which affects individuals of all genders and ages.
Q & A

  • At what age did the narrator first learn about a close person being raped?

    -The narrator was 12 years old when they found out that a person closest to them was raped.

  • What was the initial reaction of the person who was raped towards the narrator?

    -The person who was raped initially did not want to talk to the narrator and would often shut themselves up in their room.

  • What mental health condition was the survivor diagnosed with?

    -The survivor was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

  • How did the narrator's best friend disclose their experience of sexual abuse?

    -The narrator's best friend told them about being sexually abused as a child after the narrator had been trying to put the idea of rape out of their head.

  • What was the response of the school administration when the narrator reported the assault?

    -The school administration made the narrator repeat their story multiple times and eventually asked the perpetrator to leave the school, but without any mention of the assault on his transcript.

  • How did the staff at the boarding school treat the narrator after the incident?

    -The staff started treating the narrator with less respect, making them feel like the assault was their fault and lecturing them on how to prevent such situations in the future.

  • What was the reaction of the counselor at the boarding school regarding the assault?

    -The counselor told the narrator that the perpetrator was a sweet boy who just made a mistake and that the narrator's anger wasn't helping anyone.

  • What action did the narrator take to channel their anger towards the topic of sexual assault?

    -The narrator started a sexual assault awareness and prevention club at their school, raising money and donating to organizations that help the cause.

  • What are some statistics mentioned in the script regarding the effects of rape on victims?

    -One-third of rape victims develop PTSD, they are three times more likely to have a major depressive episode, and 13 times more likely to attempt suicide.

  • What percentage of sexual assault victims do not report the assault due to the stigma around the topic?

    -69 percent of sexual assaults go unreported due to the stigma and fear of being blamed.

  • What does the narrator believe contributes to the prevalence of sexual assault?

    -The narrator believes that the way boys are raised with enforced gender roles and the embrace of hypermasculinity contribute to the prevalence of sexual assault.

  • What is the narrator's call to action for the readers?

    -The narrator calls for readers to educate themselves on toxic masculinity, support victims on their path to becoming survivors, call out victim-blaming behavior, and engage in uncomfortable conversations to create change.

Outlines
00:00
😔 Trauma and Recovery: A Personal Journey

The first paragraph narrates the author's personal encounter with the reality of sexual assault within their family and later, their own experience. At the age of 12, they learn about a close family member's rape, which leads to a period of confusion and distress. The family member's struggle with PTSD and the emotional impact on the author is highlighted. Years later, the author's best friend discloses childhood sexual abuse, further deepening the author's concern and confusion. The narrative culminates in the author's own assault at a boarding school, the subsequent inadequate response from the school administration, and the emotional aftermath. The author's anger and frustration with societal norms and the lack of understanding around sexual assault are palpable. Despite the challenges, they channel their emotions into activism, founding a sexual assault awareness club and advocating for change.

05:02
😠 Challenging Rape Culture and Stereotypes

The second paragraph delves into the societal and cultural factors that contribute to the prevalence of sexual assault, often overlooked or misunderstood. The author criticizes the common media-driven narrative of the 'stranger rapist' and emphasizes that the majority of victims know their assailant. They argue that the roots of the problem lie in the way boys are socialized, with toxic masculinity and gender norms that discourage emotional expression potentially leading to aggression. The author calls for a broader understanding of sexual assault as not just a women's issue and stresses the importance of education and awareness across all genders and ages. They encourage readers to challenge victim-blaming attitudes, support survivors, and engage in conversations that can lead to meaningful change.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Rape
Rape is a form of sexual assault that involves non-consensual sexual intercourse or penetration. In the video script, it is a central theme as the narrator recounts the traumatic experiences of rape affecting their closest family member, their best friend, and themselves. It highlights the profound emotional and psychological impact on the victims and their families.
💡PTSD
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event. The script mentions that the family member diagnosed with PTSD after being raped, which indicates the long-term psychological effects of such a traumatic event.
💡Trauma Counselors
Trauma counselors are professionals who provide therapeutic services to individuals who have experienced traumatic events. The script refers to the survivor seeing various therapists and trauma counselors, emphasizing the need for professional support in the healing process after a sexual assault.
💡Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse involves engaging in unwanted sexual activities with another person. The narrator's best friend discloses that she had been sexually abused as a child, which is another form of sexual violence that can have lasting effects on the victim's mental health and well-being.
💡Consent
Consent is the voluntary agreement to engage in a particular activity, in this case, sexual activity. The script discusses the importance of consent when the narrator mentions telling a boy at school that they did not reciprocate his feelings, highlighting the necessity of respecting an individual's right to refuse.
💡Rape Culture
Rape culture is a social environment that normalizes, excuses, or tolerates sexual violence and coercion. The script addresses the issue of rape culture, where the victim is often blamed or stigmatized, and where jokes about rape contribute to a climate that perpetuates sexual violence.
💡Stigma
Stigma refers to a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person. In the context of the video, stigma is associated with the victim-blaming attitudes that prevent many victims of sexual assault from coming forward, as they fear being judged or not believed.
💡Hyper Masculinity
Hyper masculinity refers to an exaggerated or extreme form of traditional male gender roles and behaviors. The script suggests that the way boys are raised with enforced gender roles and the suppression of emotions can contribute to the development of toxic masculinity, which may play a role in sexual violence.
💡Sexual Assault Awareness
Sexual assault awareness involves educating the public about the prevalence, impact, and prevention of sexual assault. The narrator has started a sexual assault awareness and prevention club at their school, which is an example of proactive measures to educate and raise funds for organizations that support survivors.
💡PTSD Statistics
The script provides statistics related to PTSD among rape victims, stating that one-third of rape victims develop PTSD in their lifetime. This underscores the severe and long-lasting psychological impact of sexual assault on victims.
💡Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. The script mentions that rape victims are 13 times more likely to attempt suicide, which is a stark indication of the depth of despair and mental health struggles that can result from sexual assault.
💡Toxic Masculinity
Toxic masculinity refers to cultural norms that define manhood as a dominance over women and other men, asserting strength and toughness. The script connects toxic masculinity to the societal pressures that contribute to sexual assault, emphasizing the need to address these norms to prevent such violence.
Highlights

The narrator was 12 years old when they discovered a close person had been raped, leading to confusion and distress within their family.

The survivor was diagnosed with PTSD and underwent therapy, affecting the family dynamics and communication.

Years later, the narrator's best friend revealed her childhood sexual abuse, intensifying the narrator's questions and emotional turmoil.

The narrator experienced sexual assault at a boarding school, highlighting the persistence of an unwanted admirer and the eventual violent incident.

Despite reporting the assault and providing evidence, the perpetrator was allowed to leave without any record of the incident on his transcript.

The school's response to the assault left the narrator feeling blamed and unsupported, leading to a sense of isolation and anger.

The staff's victim-blaming attitude and the counselor's dismissive comments about the incident further exacerbated the narrator's trauma.

The narrator's experience with the school's dress code and being singled out led them to leave the program early and finish classes from home.

The narrator has channeled their anger into activism, starting a sexual assault awareness and prevention club at their school.

The me2 movement has raised awareness about sexual assault, but there is a need for greater understanding of the emotional impact on victims.

Media often misrepresents rape and its aftermath, failing to depict the long-term effects on victims' mental health.

Rape culture and societal norms contribute to the stigma and underreporting of sexual assault, with most victims knowing their assailant.

The narrator calls for a societal shift away from toxic masculinity and victim-blaming, urging education and support for all genders and ages.

The narrator emphasizes the importance of having uncomfortable conversations about rape culture and supporting survivors in their journey.

The statistics provided by the narrator highlight the prevalence of sexual assault and its severe psychological impact on victims.

The narrator shares their personal journey from being a victim to an advocate, encouraging others to educate themselves and be allies to survivors.

The transcript ends with a call to action for immediate societal change to prevent future generations from having to experience sexual assault.

Transcripts

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Sexual AssaultSurvivorsPTSDTrauma CounselingRape CultureAwarenessPreventionSchool ResponseEmotional ImpactStigmaGender RolesHyper MasculinityTeen AssaultSexual HarassmentAllyshipEducationSupportHealingVictim BlamingMedia StereotypesSocietal PressureEmpowerment