I want to applaud the brave women who told their stories of being sexually assaulted in the Cape Breton Post recently and to the Post for printing their stories ('It ruins people's lives,' 'Breaking the stigma helps break the cycle,' Nov. 6).
This is not a subject most people want to hear about or deal with.
I’m one of the lucky ones. I have not been a victim of sexual assault. No matter how many precautions one does or does not take it really comes down to luck because victims don’t have the power to prevent sexual assaults.
The perpetrators are the ones who have the power and who make the choice to commit the crime.
When I was young I was bullied because I was different and verbally harassed because I was “top heavy.” It made me aware of how little power I had and left me preoccupied with my personal safety.
It also left me aware of how much freedom women have to sacrifice in order to try to be safe and to try not to be blamed if something happens.
The alleged perpetrators in the article suffered no consequences and some have likely gone on to positions of power. No wonder nothing changes.
Many people don’t want to know what is under the surface. They don’t want to know how many women and girls have been abused. They don’t want to know how many men have sexually assaulted women.
It’s easier not to know because either they don’t care or because they do care and having to knowingly interact with such people would be soul destroying.
M. Monica MacDonald
North Sydney
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