Dear Sexual Violence,

As members of Alpha Chi Omega who work everyday to combat and educate people about domestic violence, we know you very well.  We’ve heard stories from your victims and seen the destruction you cause in families and communities.  But we are Real Strong Women and we refuse to let you harm our sisters and loved ones anymore. 

We’ll destroy you through the strength of our sisterhood.  We’ll make you powerless, because no matter what you do, we’ll always be there for each other. You’re only powerful because you make your victims feel vulnerable all the time, but we’re powerful because we make each other feel strong.

Our sisterhood is our safe space, and we refuse to let you invade our homes and take that away.

The women of Alpha Chi Omega

whoneedsfeminism:

I need feminism because I didn’t completely understand my genitalia until I was 18, because in school they were afraid to show what it looked like from the outside and explain anything other than how childbirth worked.

sexgenderbody:

dionthesocialist:

caffeinatedfeminist:

If I choose to write about this sensitive subject, I will do so as tastefully as possible and use it to make a point about rampant misogyny and rape culture.

I will not abuse my female characters for the sake of “plot”.

Reblog if you pledge this too.

I’m in. Co-signed.

In

My big problem with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

whoneedsfeminism:

because the Violence Against Women Act is considered controversial.

whoneedsfeminism:

I need feminism because my male friends seem to think it is a compliment to tell me I “don’t act like a girl” because I’m easygoing and mellow. 

whoneedsfeminism:

I need feminism because having sex doesn’t make me a whore.

I need feminism because I want to feel safe saying no, but also feel safe saying yes

From an email sent campus-wide this morning:

Dear Students,

In honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Week, President Schapiro sent an email to students, faculty and staff Monday regarding the importance of addressing sexual violence on NU’s campus. I would like to echo President Schapiro’s sentiments and voice my support for making Northwestern a community free from sexual violence.

This year’s incoming students benefited from a new EssentialNU on sexual violence, a play called “Student Body.” Due to overwhelmingly positive feedback about this student production, my office is co-sponsoring three encore performances this Friday, April 27 at 4pm and 7pm, and Saturday, April 28 at 7pm in the Louis Theater (Theater and Interpretation Center). Performances are free and open to the public; no tickets are required. For more information about this and other Sexual Assault Awareness Week events please visit CARE’s website.

I am proud to be part of a campus that is taking active steps to eradicate sexual violence. I hope you can become better acquainted with NU’s approach to addressing sexual violence by attending a “Student Body” performance this week. By keeping ourselves informed and working together we can continue to make NU a safer community in which our students can thrive.

Sincerely,

Burgie Howard

Dean of Students

We believe that everyone deserves to be treated with respect. Everyone has the right to a safe environment. We won’t let you silence your survivors anymore, and we won’t stand for a culture of victim-blaming. That’s why we’re joining the fight against sexual violence. Everyone deserves a voice: it’s time to listen. It’s over, sexual violence.

We’re through.

-Autism Speaks U Northwestern University

We know your tricks - we’ve seen how you put up an act, and try to pretend that everything is okay. We’ve seen how you creep into women’s lives when they are least expecting it, and how you continue to haunt them even after the relationship is long over. You should not be controlling people’s lives and making them feel depressed for your horrible acts.  No one should ever feel the need to justify you or protect someone that uses you.

You force people to do things they are not proud of. You make them question their worth and kidnap their personality. You change their character and they surrender, giving in to the darkness that you shed. It is unstoppable, and because of this, you have no place in our world. No right to dampen our self-worth and hinder our happiness. Please get out. And don’t come back.

We’re stronger than you.  We’re worth more than you think.  And we’re proud of it.  

Together we can fight you and WIN.  

The Women of Chi Omega

As people who believe in modeling peaceful relationships, the NU Interfaith Initiative wanted to tell you that you’re just not for us. We represent a lot of different communities and we won’t have you in any of them. Sexual violence is not a part of the world we’re trying to create. We’re fighting back.

We’re taking back the night,
NU Interfaith Initiative

We are tired of you telling us it is our fault. We don’t appreciate you judging us on how we dress, how we act and blaming us. We want you to stand down, to stay away.  To just disappear. We’re tired of putting up with you and are taking a stand. Our chapter’s goal is to foster confidence in all women, and you are getting in the way of that. That is why we refuse to put up with you any more.  It’s over.

Sincerely,

The Women of Kappa Delta Sorority, Lambda Chapter

We are done with you. From this point on you have no power over us. We will no longer believe your lies, listen to your excuses, or accept your blame. We used to let you make us feel ashamed, as if it was our fault you happened. But we have shared our stories and exposed you for the deceitful coward you are. Now, we are stronger than you and refuse to let you push us around anymore. You are not welcome on our campus or in our bedrooms. Listen to us when we say that it is over. We will not live in fear of you and if we hear that you have tried to attack any of us, we will stand up to you. Know that your presence is always intolerable, even if we wear a skirt it is intolerable; even if we are drunk, it is intolerable; even if we are in a relationship, it is intolerable; so we want you to leave now! Be warned, sexual violence, we refuse to be your victims and if you ever try to hurt us again you will be held accountable. We’ll make sure of it.

Don’t bother calling, we won’t answer.

Sincerely,

Upsilon Chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma 

In the immortal words of Jojo, leave. Get out.  For too long I was fooled by your ability to morph into many different shapes and facades, but once someone pointed you out to me, the gig was up.  I am now aware of your very common presence in so many strong women’s lives, and how sneaky you can be.  But through this awareness comes resistance, and you won’t trick me again (believe me, once was enough). I look at myself as a fighter and role model to others on how to defy your normative existence. You are much too common place here where I live, but with the support of women around me also kicking you out of their lives, I know that this change can be made and maintained.  You are a serious problem, but a solution does exist.  It starts with a letter, continues into discussion, and results in a challenge.  So goodbye for good, and know that Alpha Phi isn’t taking any more from you.

Dear Sexual Violence,

I didn’t know very much about you until I watched SHAPE’s Student Body presentation upon my arrival to campus. But that show opened up my eyes to how sneaky you are and how dirty you play. I realized that even the one single time I felt hurt by my boyfriend’s conduct, that could’ve been you, right there!! I never want you to come near me again. You don’t deserve a place in anyone’s circle, especially within relationships! Now I know that if we set the right boundaries, you can never step inside. Here’s to breaking down walls to communcation, and building them up against you, sexual violence. Later.

I’m speaking on behalf of all members of Students for Sensible Drug Policy when I say that it is my responsibility to join the fight against you and the destruction you cause every single day.

You used drugs to debilitate me and coerce me into doing things you knew I wouldn’t have done sober.  You made me feel like it was my fault because I couldn’t remember what had happened. You made my friends and I scared to talk about what happened, because we knew I was far from “the perfect victim.”  I was afraid people would blame me, or the alcohol, or the “situation” that led to your attack. 

But I have grown stronger and smarter since then.  I used to think I deserved the blame, but not anymore. YOU’RE the one that took advantage of me.  Don’t you dare blame it on me, on drugs, or on anything else that you think you can use to make excuses with. I refuse to let you scare me into controlling the way I dress or act—I shouldn’t have to be afraid that another drink will lead to another attack.  I have since found a group of friends who support me, make me feel beautiful, and tell me every day that I don’t deserve a piece of sh!t like you in my life.

It’s your fault, and your fault alone, and I’m done with your manipulative, controlling, victim-blaming lifestyle.

Sincerely,

Students for Sensible Drug Policy

Dear Sexual Violence,

I remember you once told me to be quiet. Not just quiet, but silent. You did this not by speaking directly to me, but the way you would stare at me unblinkingly, imperceptibly twining your shadows on the edges of my mind, shrouding my better judgment. I mistook those shadows for real power, mistook threats for harm, fear for caution. And you fed off of me—your cloak would extend and spread, muffling my cries and forcing me into a small, dark cell from which I could not see who I used to be. You gave me water to drink, food to eat, but you fed me lies with this as well—you made me believe that I was ok, that I was recovered and my apathy was a normal part of college procrastination.

It wasn’t.

I face you now, with some anger. But no, I will not let it overcome me, because it would mean that on a greater level, you still control me. You are not the one that dictates my life; you are not the one that will tell me that I cannot do something. I’m sure that you remember the day that I reached out to myself and banished you. I screamed and screamed and swore that I would never be silenced again. I cursed you. I cursed myself.

Suddenly, I saw your shadows for what they were—shadows. Insubstantial darkened “threats”. Irrationality.

I am happy now, that much I want you to know. I want you to know that I was capable of rising so much further than you had ever whispered to me, younger than you have ever tried to aged me, bolder than your attempts at frightening me have ever predicted, brighter than your attempts at darkening my mind would ever know.

I am louder than your pathetic attempts at silencing me.

I am not your victim. I am a survivor. You are not me, you are a part of me. You are something that I control, that I rise from, that I grow and become a better person from.

The boundaries you drew for me in every aspect of my life are a starting point, not an ending. I am, always will, and always have been beyond you.

Farewell,

A Survivor. 

You have no place on our campus, in our relationships, or on the streets of our hometowns. Who do you think you are, to come to our community and threaten the safety and well-being of our members? We don’t want you here, and your presence will certainly not be tolerated. We may have been quiet about your presence before, but we’re not scared of you anymore. We’re calling the shots now. We won’t turn away or pretend not to see you anymore.  We’re taking back the power, supporting our sisters who may have once had a relationship with you, and preventing you from touching anyone new. There is no one who deserves you. We are strong, healthy, beautiful people - we deserve so much more than your destruction, your abuse, your pain.

We’re through with you.

The Ladies of Delta Zeta