“My heart had shattered and scattered in the wind, hoping no one would realize that I have ceased to exist in society.” -Anonymous
Survivors of sexual assault face strong and unexpected changes, not because of natural events, but because a perpetrator felt entitled to cross the limits without their consent.
Many people who experience sexual assault blame themselves for what happened. They feel ashamed, guilty, and unsure if what happened was really an assault. This self-blame can stop them from telling anyone about what happened.
Some survivors think they somehow caused the assault because of how they acted or dressed. They might also feel like their experience isn’t “bad enough” to count as assault. This confusion and self-blame make it hard for them to ask for help or report the assault to the police.
There is a lot to understand and navigate regarding sexual assault, including the psychological, physiological, and legal components that truly impacts a survivor’s autonomy. Survivors experience a detriment in their individual rights, especially those related to personal autonomy and intimacy. Similarly with their collective rights, every so often, instead of encountering guidance and protection from the community, they must cope with uncertainty, distrust, and criticism.
It is important for survivors to know that they are in control of their present and future. The pace of the healing process is unique for each survivor and there is no right or wrong way to move forward.
I am not surprised. Appeals for these types of criminal cases are difficult. Common cited case here is R. v. John McAughey, 2002 ONSC 2863, you can look it up online. The appeal was for a conviction of assault on a minor in Sprucedale, Ontario in 2000.