Category: Survivor Stories

The Crying Wolf

Ilana Slavit June 30, 2021 0 Comments
TW: This article includes discussions of sexual violence, r*pe, and suicide. “I love you.” “Why don’t you love me?” “Why don’t you talk?” Every five minutes Alex continued as I tried to focus on the biology lesson. It was seventh grade, and I was accustomed to constant teasing from the boys in my classes. I was a quiet, unpopular kid in middle school, and that apparently made me...

A Survivor’s Struggle with Bulimia

Jenni Pantoja June 2, 2021 0 Comments
I’ve struggled with bulimia since the age of 10. A mix of low self esteem, the desire to be invisible, and the struggle to find control is where my eating disorder emerged. Sexual violence takes a toll on a person’s psyche. My desire to be invisible and to find control grew every time I was assaulted.  The less control I feel, the worse my bulimia emerges again. I am very open about my...

Unreliable Memories of a Non-Girl

Ilana Slavit March 11, 2021 0 Comments
Content warning: r*pe, sexual violence  When I found out that I would develop breasts in fourth grade I started sobbing. My favorite PE activity was running so fast that a newspaper would stick to my chest and run along with me. Once I grew these inconvenient blobs, my favorite activity would be ruined! I was also terrified of the male attention that these blobs might garner.  Prior to...

A Year with Survivors to Superheroes – How I Found My Voice

Jenni Pantoja February 5, 2021 0 Comments
Through Survivors To Superheroes I have been able to process my trauma of sexual violence that I experienced in my youth. Having this platform is a privilege and I recognize that. My first article I wrote was the first time I openly admitted I was a rape survivor. I felt silenced by the media and comments I would see under news articles blaming survivors for coming forward years after it...

What it Means to be a Survivor

Jenni Pantoja June 15, 2020 0 Comments
When I was 18, I was sexually assaulted by my coworker. I never reported the incident to my managers or even told another coworker about it. Even after I was assaulted, my coworker would continue to harass me and make unwanted advances. I only felt safe after he was terminated.  It took me time to process what had occurred. I felt conflicted about telling somebody. In my mind, I felt like I...