It can be really tough to realize that you're being harassed, or abused in a relationship, your workplace, or with a complete stranger. Throughout my life, I've always told my self that things were fine. That whatever someone did to me, was fine. That everything was my fault, wasn't it? Everything was my fault because I didn't say no enough, or I was "too" friendly, or I just had to take it.
I told myself so many times that being talked down upon, or cheated on by my boyfriend was normal and healthy. That he was just being brutally honest, even when I would cry, or get so stressed to the point of anxiety attacks, that through all of that, it was still my fault. I told myself that being groped at work behind closed doors, was my fault because I let him do it. I led him to believe that I wanted that. I told myself that I had to give in to a friend asking me to do something he wanted me to do because he TOLD me I had to. That I owed him that as his friend.
That my "no" meant nothing to him, no matter how many times I said it. I owed him whatever he wanted, didn't I? At this point, I'm just sick of thinking about these things, because I blame myself. I'm sick of my "no" not meaning a damn thing, and I'm sick of thinking that I owe anyone anything at all. I don't. I'm sick of society teaching young men, and women, that we owe anyone SHIT. We don't, we never did.
It's like we've been brainwashed to believe that we're just here to please other people. That our feelings don't mean anything until we're alone and we can let them out on our own. I'm sick of feeling stupid, and alone, and like I have no voice. I do, we all do.
It's time to start speaking up. It's time to be apart of the noise. It's time to take back the word "no" and realize what is okay, and what isn't. It's time to stop being so uncomfortable, and acting like these things don't happen. It's time to stop blaming ourselves. I'm ready, are you?
