In a bid to be the voice of those sexual assault victims who feel the don’t have one, the member for Edinburgh West in the UK, Michelle Thomson, opened up to parliament about being raped when she was just 14 years old.
And her admission was enough to bring her fellow politicians to tears.
“When I was 14, I was raped. As is common, he was someone who was known to me,” Michelle began.
“He had offered to walk me home from a youth event, and in those days it was quite common to do that.”
“It was mercifully quick. I remember, first of all, feeling surprise, then fear, then horror as I realised that I, quite simply, couldn’t escape. My senses were absolutely numb.”
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The 51-year-old then continued to talk about how this shocking experience made her feel, and how she felt as though she couldn’t tell anyone what had happened to her – not even her mum.
“I didn’t tell my mother. I didn’t tell my father. I didn’t tell my friends. And I didn’t tell the police. I bottled it all up inside me; I hoped, briefly and appallingly, that I might be pregnant so that would force a situation to help me control it.”
“I was very ashamed – ashamed that I had allowed this happen to me. I felt that I was spoiled and impure, and I really felt revulsion towards myself.”
It was from this point that Michelle feels as though her confidence, self-esteem and self-worth were almost robbed from her a teenager – painful memories she now uses today to speak up about what happened to her in the hope that she can courage all women to band together to fight against the depraved act that is sexual assault.
“We, women, in our society, have to stand up for each other; we have to be courageous and call things out and say where things are wrong. We have to support and nurture our sisters as we do with our sons.”
“I’m not scared. I’m not a victim – I’m a survivor.”
Last year, it was announced that, disturbingly, the Australian rate of sexual assault sits at double the global average.
If you, or someone you know, has been through an experience similar to Michelle, stand up and speak to a trusted, confidential health professional. Do this by locating your closest sexual assault support service here or call 1800 RESPECT.
