Thank you, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford

Dear Dr. Blasey Ford,

         On behalf of all women who have endured sexual harassment, unwanted sexual advances, sexual degradation, and sexual victimization, we applaud your courage to testify against your abuser. It may have been decades ago, but as you have so truthfully revealed, sexual violation in any form encodes memories that cannot be easily erased or dismissed. Your powerful testimony, while standing up to an all male Senate committee, proves we may be outnumbered but we will not be silenced. By confronting your politically entitled abuser, you have empowered women who have endured sexual exploitation to bravely come forward and name their predators. Thank you for your fearlessness in the face of adversity. You are an inspiration. 

WHY WOMEN DON'T TELL (MOSTLY MEN) ABOUT HAVING BEEN SEXUALLY VIOLATED

To be a girl or woman is to quickly learn that no matter how one behaves or dresses, sooner or later you will be the recipient of unwanted sexual behavior in the form of derogatory innuendo, demeaning catcalls, blatant harassment, duress, coercion, threats, and/or outright assault. As women, we have been given strong messages from a primarily white, male, straight culture that women usually make up these stories or were asking for it. In institutions and court systems, we see time after time that sexual behavior goes frequently unpunished or with a slap on the hand (a la the Stanford Swimmer). No wonder women don't tell men these stories of violation, preferring to reveal their secrets to their closest women confidantes. They may not tell their family, their husbands, or law enforcement, but they will tell another woman. Why? Because we have heard these stories from other women all of our lives.

So why don't women tell or report these incidents? Here is the list I've compiled from women I've known who've experienced varying degrees of unwanted sexual behavior from men:
1. No one will believe me-it's his word against mine.
2. It happened so long ago, why dredge this up? It will only make me upset. I got over this long ago.
3. I don't want to loose my job, social standing, or reputation.
4. If my family found out (about the incest) they would blame me, fracture my family, or cause my
    family member to face legal consequences.
5. The man who assaulted me is powerful and has threatened me or bribed me to keep silent.
6. I will be blamed for enticing the unwanted behavior.
7. I am ashamed that this happened.
8. I am to blame or feel I contributed to my victimization.
9. There is no evidence that the sexual incident happened.
10. I should have known better.
11. My family and friends will think I deserved what happened.
12. I am afraid to face the perpetrator.
13. It was all a part of 'normal' male behavior. Boys will be boys.
14. If I don't keep it a secret, bad things could happen.
15. I wouldn't have gotten ahead if I hadn't succumbed to his advances.
16. I will end up being the one punished and/or embarrassed because of what happened.
17. No one will get hurt as long as I keep it a secret.
18. It was no big deal. It wasn't that bad. I got over this long ago.
19. If I tell I will be scrutinized, belittled, and my credibility will be impeached.
20. I will be smeared as a liar.
21. I will be the target of jokes, memes, and other demeaning insults.
22. My sexual history will be used to further 'confirm' that I deserved what I got.
23. I will be seen as trying to extort the 'good' man who committed the offense.
24. So much time has gone by that I will be accused of making this up.
25. I could jeopardize my personal and professional standing by coming forward.


The "me, too" movement has awakened our society to the extent of women's experiences with unwanted sexual behavior. However, we have a long way to go before the message is heard that no woman deserves to be sexually violated.

This blog is dedicated to Anita Hill, who bravely testified about the sexual harassment she endured while working for Clarence Thomas (now Justice of the Supreme Court), at the EEOC and the Department of Education.

"According to Hill, Thomas asked her out socially many times during her two years of employment as his assistant,and, after she declined his requests, he used work situations to discuss sexual subjects."He spoke about ... such matters as women having sex with animals and films showing group sex or rape scenes," she said, adding that on several occasions Thomas graphically described "his own sexual prowess" and the details of his anatomy. Hill also recounted an instance in which Thomas examined a can of Coke on his desk and asked, "Who has put pubic hair on my Coke?" -Wikipedia

I WROTE THE OP-ED NY TIMES 'STEADY RESISTANCE' PIECE

No, I really didn't but wish I had. It was brilliant. The anonymous 
writer succinctly captured what the majority of us have been 
thinking since Trump assumed office. How heartening it is to know
there is an inside revolt. At least there are some decent people left who know sabotage is the best defense against a corrupt dictatorship.

The joke is on the joker president who behaves like a imperious autocrat stoned on narcissism pills. His vicious and inhumane administration's policies have come back to bite him in his ass. 
Now he doesn't know whom to trust. His karma has come home to roost. He will forever eye anyone in his inner circle with suspicion. 
Even the Secret Service will not be able to protect him from his self-absorption, greed, and despot ways. What a fitting term of office for one rivaling Buchanan and Harding as the worst American president. 

I encourage everyone to write Mr. Trump and voice their approval of Bob Woodward's book and the NY Times op-ed. We still live in a democracy where the First Amendment is alive and well.