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I know that it takes courage to speak out and share your experiences, and I want you to know that you are not alone.

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I was sexually harassed by my boss who was 3x older than me for 2.5 years. He had known me since I was 5 yrs old, watched me grow up, and started getting touchy and weird with me from before I was 18. He would just be overly touchy, putting his hand on my lower back, tucking my hair behind my ear, trying to hold my hand... asked me a lot of times if I wanted to sleep with him etc. I still feel like I was responsible for this, that it's my fault for not setting boundaries or asking him to stop sooner. I'm still feel numb thinking about it

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Please don’t allow male people into female spaces

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Please don’t allow male people into female spaces

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This includes toilets and sports.

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I just want to feel safe on campus <3

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We hear your
We believe you

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Peace, love, unity, respect, & anger

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It's never your fault. I believe you <3 <3 <3

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Just navigating your way through this world as a woman shows your strength. You are amazing <3

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If you have to wonder whether it was assault, it probably was.

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If you have to wonder whether it was assault, it probably was.

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I'd like to walk home without feeling unsafe one day

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I stand will all my sisters and allies.

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We are the 97%. Together we suffer but together we speak we stand and we survive <3

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It might not be all men but it's enough for all women to be scared

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We will do more than listen, we will make a change.

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It shouldn't be a privilege to not be sexually harassed.

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Don't change for anyone

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Only 3% until it's all women.

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Do not let the patriarchy colonise your brain.

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Do not let the patriarchy colonise your brain.

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Women are fucking strong.

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You are fucking strong.

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You are beautiful and worthy of so much love

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You are beautiful and worthy of so much love

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- Devon Rape Crisis
- The Survivors Trust
- Galop
- Rape Crisis England
- Survivors UK
- Devon & Cornwall SARC
- Somerset & Avon Rape and Sexual Abuse Support

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It is a matter of police misconduct and misogyny

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I'm tired of everything they do to us.

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Please believe this is real. It is happening. Be a part of the solution. Believe victims.

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You may kill me with your hatefulness, but still like air I'll rise.

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"Mum, I am a rich man" - Cher x

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Educate your sons and change the world <3 

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Educate your sons and change the world <3 

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You are so much stronger than you think.

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On the way home I want to feel free not brave.

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I want to truly trust my male peers

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GUYS- hold your mates accountable
Girls + all you beautiful people, stay strong <3

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I want to be able to walk outside late at night without worrying

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half of everything created, dreamed of, and loved. Together we can make change and bring safety for everyone

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If you can be anything in the world - BE KIND- you can never be too kind!

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Listen, learn, support.
Together we can make change.

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I left behind all of the friends from my old school rather than explain to them my bf had been raping me. I know better now I like to think they would have believed me. 

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I left behind all of the friends from my old school rather than explain to them my bf had been raping me. I know better now I like to think they would have believed me. 

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I support you.
I believe you.

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2 years ago today a "friend" walked me back to his, and engaged in sexual activities with me while I was clearly far too drunk to consent (I was half passed out and in the morning I had to ask his friends what had happened and whether or not we had slept together.) It took me a year and a half to recognise that it was sexual assault, and still most of our mutual friends would never believe me in a million years because he's such a 'sweet guy'. I don't think it was malicious or intentional sexual assault, but I'm realising that it doesn't need to have been intentionally 'evil' for it to be assault. I was taken advantage of and our society is so fucked up that I still question whether or not it was my own fault.

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When I was 13/14 I was sexually assaulted by my boyfriend several times through a period of 3 months. I had a male friend at the time and he knew nothing about it until 6 months after the relationship ended when me and the friend decided to get into a relationship. 6 years later I finally picked up the courage to leave the second man. He physically and emotionally abused me. One of the lines I remember clearly being "I see why he did that to you" referring to the first man. Me and the second man have a child together. Currently in the court process. He took me to court tried making out I was the abusive one and used the fact that I accused a man of abuse in the past to make out I am not trustworthy. He's trying to take my child from me.

I'm tired of men taking advantage of me. These are just the main events. Too many people treat me wrong. I just want to be able to wake up and not feel all these horrible feelings for once.

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I wasn't believed because I didn't report it. I wasn't believed because I didn't like talking about it. I wasn't believed because I'd had sex with him before. Why couldn't I say no on this occasion?
To all of you who are worried you won't be believed, I believe you.

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At 16 I had my first kiss with a guy because I felt like I had to, because I felt too 'old' and worried that I was too ugly, and that it would never happen. I was scared, he had a reputation, and at a party upstairs he put his hands down my pants again and again, while I told him to stop. He opened up my top and pulled my bra down. I told him to stop so many times - but I also kept kissing him - I didn't want my first kiss to be a horrible memory, I wanted to feel in control. He apologised over text that night, then asked for nudes. A few months later, at a camping party, I was drunk and didn't want to kiss him, I told him this. But he came into my tent and  wouldn't get out, I didn't scream, I just tried to undress under a sleeping bag. He never left the tent, he pulled my trousers down and tried to push himself in me from behind. Part of me liked him hugging me, the feeling of being wanted, and I used that as ammunition against myself for years. What I didn't want was to stay awake all night whilst very drunk and falling asleep, because every time I started to drift off he would attempt to push in me, or grab my hand and use it on himself. I told him I didn't want that, so many times. I'm saying this because it took at least a year for me to come to terms with the fact that it actually wasn't my fault. And that saying no was enough, even if I didn't push him off hard enough, or yell or tell anyone. Not saying anything would have been enough, because consent was never given with my body language. I still struggle to not blame myself. But I would never want anyone else to question whether they somehow contributed to their own hurt, or assault, or even a catcall on a street. Its never ever you.

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Age 13: I was sat down on the tube and a man stood over me and directed his groin into my face. It wasn't a full carriage so he didn't need to be standing there. Nobody said anything. I was 13.
Age 14: 4pm walking back from school after it was a 'wear your own clothes day'. Some man from a removals company on his break said 'you look really good in those jeans' and looked me up and down.
Age 14: I receive anonymous calls during the night from a man telling me he's masturbating over my facebook profile picture. It is reported to the police but nothing happens.
Age 12-16: consistently groped at school in the corridors by boys my age.
Age 15: I was walking along the street in broad daylight when a car full of young guys slowed down and shouted 'SLUT' at me.
Age 19: A group of my friends all stayed round one of our mate's houses and one 'friend' got really drunk and forced himself upon me. He stuck his tongue down my throat and put his whole body weight on me so I couldn't move. He eventually fell asleep with his hands on breasts. I cried silently all night. I was too afraid to make a scene because I didn't want to wake people up.
Age 18-19: Male teacher from my 6th form college coerced me into a sexual relationship with him via text/video chat. I was unprotected by the law because I turned 18 early on in the year so it was technically not 'child abuse'. If I had born in august it would have been a different story.

This isn't an exhaustive list. I'm fed up of keeping my mouth shut and I'm so glad we're talking about this now because it is such a serious problem. My 'list' is just one of thousands, if not millions, of stories of women being consistently used, abused and harassed.

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Because I can’t say out loud what happened to me

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Every time I see a post on Overheard about a female feeling like their life was in danger because of the presence of a threatening male I get really anxious

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my friend told me yesterday that one of her friends leaves a strand of her hair (with the follicle) in strangers vehicles so incase something were to happen to her, her DNA would be in the car. why does she feel the need to do that...

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Being 50% scared I'm going to get murdered and 50% excited about meeting guys for first dates is the most messed up feeling

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Covering up my body because males will stare and I might get molested is arguably one of the worst feelings I have on a daily basis

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Age 10: got cat called for the first time
Age 11: was sexually assaulted by an authority figure
Age 13-16: my boobs were constantly brought up in conversation
Age 17: I had my boyfriends friends gather around my bum to stare at it
Age 18: lost my virginity without consent
Age 20: finally achieved a healthy relationship with sex
All of this while having men shout at me from their car, groping me in very public situations and being terrified of walking alone or being alone with a man.
Enough is enough.

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I am exhausted of having to look in the mirror every morning and wonder if what I’m wearing could lead to rape.

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There will be better days, I promise.

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I despise walking anywhere alone no matter the time. I never feel more alert and anxious than when I’m alone in public.

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After being unsure if I had been sexually assaulted or not, I was recommended on a help line to watch this video on YouTube called ‘tea consent’ to reassure me that I had been a victim of sexual assault at uni and I was not just ‘over reacting’! I so recommend for any of you amazing girls to go and watch! Sending all the love

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After being treated badly by men that manipulated me, mislead me, and used me for sex, I never thought I'd find one that would treat me right. Luckily today I am in a supportive, loving relationship with a man who adores and respects me. Don't settle for less than you deserve <3

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I used to walk home alone after society events, through the city and from campus. Reading all of the posts which have come out recently on overheard and suchlike makes me wonder if I was lucky to not have been approached. It should not be like this. It should be a given that women get home safely.

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Keep imagining a better world.

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I was once shouted at for hitting a guy on the head for sexually assaulting a friend when she was drunk. I was shouted at! Not him, me!

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Devon Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Services

The Survivors Trust

Galop (which is good for LGBTQ victims of violence)

Somerset & Avon Rape & Sexual Abuse Support

Rape Crisis England and Wales

Survivors U.K.

Devon & Cornwall SARC

Please do reach out if you’re in need of professional help or someone to talk to.

Even if you decide not to go to a professional, consider talking to somebody like a friend you trust, perhaps. Keeping these things in can really mess with you. I wish for us all to have the kind of support system that can be there for us when we need it.

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Staying friends with someone who has sexually assaulted me has been difficult because we are in the same friendship group. I didn't consider myself a victim of sexual abuse until I watched I May Destroy You - I highly recommend this eye opening show to everyone (even if you don't think any of it will resonate with you)

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To all the people that haven’t found the courage to talk about it yet, I’m proud of you and I hope you find some peace. <3

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Why is it that being a messy drunk as a female is trashy but being a messy drunk as a male is funny

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I remember when I was younger, in my teens, how much more angry I used to feel about violence against minority genders, how much anger there was there to express. I don't feel anger, or shock, or horror anymore. I'm desensitised and I've lost the energy that this violence deserves. I feel empty and ashamed for my lack of feelings anymore

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To every girl who has felt scared walking home, or being alone or in the presence of a man. I understand and I love you. You are not alone. Be loud. Be physical. Take up space. You deserve it. You will get through this.

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I can still feel his hands on me

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I feel desensitised to the violence against women that happens in all four corners of the world and it is emotionally draining

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It upsets me that women of colour go missing every day but as a white middle-class former Durham uni student, Sarah's case gained an immense of media coverage and publicity. Women of colour go missing every day.

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People need to be more aware that there are other ways / words / signals one will use to make it clear they’re uncomfortable within the situation they find themselves in. Verbal isn’t the only way.

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I enjoy drinking and being drunk, and that should never compromise my safety. But as a female it does and that terrifies me

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This keeps happening again and again. I don’t want to become desensitised to the violence but I’m so tired of being sad and angry.

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i need this because sometimes it is hard to say no