On Oct. 13, Lou Dobbs, an anchor for Fox Business Network, helped circulate the address and phone number of Jessica Leeds, one of the women who has recently come forward to accuse Donald Trump of inappropriate sexual contact. Dobbs tweeted a link to a news site that published Leeds’ address and phone number taken from public records and also quoted a tweet that included Leeds’ contact information. Dobbs has 794,000 followers.
In response, women began to use the hashtag #WhyWomenDontReport to highlight the many reasons female sexual assault victims may not report the crimes. Some striking barriers that emerge: public scrutiny and distrust, and violation of privacy. Many shared their own stories:
#WhyWomenDontReport because people don't believe that a man can rape his wife.
— Lauren (@pinklem73) October 13, 2016
Because I was told I would ruin his life and I was only 17. Nobody cared that it ruined mine. #WhyWomenDontReport
— Michelle (@SoSofieFatale) October 13, 2016
I watched enough SVU to know no one would believe me. I was 15 & scared. I knew cops were ppl who hurt Muslims like me. #WhyWomenDontReport
— Mahroh Jahangiri (@mahrohj) October 13, 2016
Because I was a new 24-y-o reporter w/$30k in college debt and he was the publisher. #WhyWomenDontReport
— Jackie Calmes (@calmesnyt) October 13, 2016
He was 35, I was 13. Told me that if I told anyone, he'd go to jail. I was 36 when I reported him. #WhyWomenDontReport #StatuteOfLimitations
— Janet Mitchell (@janetmitch) October 13, 2016
My parents said it would ruin my sister's marriage. The predator was her husband. Told me to get over it. #WhyWomenDontReport
— Truck Fump (@Brogyrl) October 13, 2016
Because society victim blames and shames women into thinking they deserved it. #WhyWomenDontReport
— Dara Adeeyo (@DAdeeyo) October 13, 2016
See more responses here.
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