It was just your typical Tuesday for a blue eyed blonde hair 7th grader. The bus had finally reached it's last stop at my old elementary school. I jumped off and began walking through the playground that I used to spend my afternoons at everyday for 6 years.
It was rather cold that day, I remember because I was wearing my knock off UGGs and a blue puffy jacket that made me look like a marshmallow. As I began walking through the small portion of woods that was standing between me and my house, I noticed something at the top of the hill I was about to climb.
Being a naive 13-year-old, I figured it was some type of animal running back to its home behind the large, thick tree. Little did I know that what was standing behind that tree was something that would change my life for good.
I payed little attention to the movement as I continued walking up the path. The closer and closer I got, the more the shape behind the tree became apparent to me that it was no animal behind the tree, it was a man 2 times my size to say the least. I began picking up the pace and turned my leisurely walk into a slight jog to get past this man as quickly as possible. As I quickly approached his hiding position, I began to get very nervous. Something did not feel right about this, something was wrong.
The next thing I knew his hand was wrapped around my arm. I screamed and he squeezed tighter. He told me he was going to rape me. I some how wiggled loose (I still have no clue how I got out of that death grip) and sprinted all the way home, hearing his feet pounding behind me halfway, then no longer hearing him follow me.
Here are some great tips from my experience on how women should dress to not get kidnapped and or raped.
1. DEFINITELY don't wear a large puffy jacket. Your attacker might think you want someone to snuggle with and keep you warm. Also, it's easier to grab clothing and yank you down. You don't want to give him that idea.
2. Don't even think about jeans! Especially not with rips. They might make your legs look longer making you you susceptible for an attacker to want to touch you.
3. UGGs? UGH, NO! Those boots might make it seem like you are cold and want to warm up in a room with your attacker. That's not the case!
4. Flip flops? No way. Those might make it seem like you want to travel far far away with your attacker.
5. Don't even get me started on shorts and skirts - you know the deal ladies. If you wear either of these you probably would be asking for it... right?
6. Crop the crop tops out of your wardrobe ladies! You would probably be wanting the attention from the attacker, that's why you're wearing a crop top for sure!
Reading that seems insane, right? But that's how the media treats female victims of attacks. I was 13 years old, fully dressed, completely sober, and still was almost a victim. The media portrays victims in harsh light, always commenting on the appearance, height, weight, and alcohol level. It is so unfair that strangers hear stories and judge and survivors blame themselves. This constant finger pointing idea society has been using is the one of the worst things that could happen because it causes victims to blame themselves while the attacker has no guilt (or so it seems) what-so-ever. It is time to focus on helping the victims of sexual assault rather than attacking them again.
