#WhyIDidntReport

#WhyIDidntReport

Part of a series on #MeToo. [View Related Entries]

Updated Sep 24, 2018 at 05:06PM EDT by Brad.

Added Sep 24, 2018 at 02:50PM EDT by Matt.

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About

#WhyIDidntReport is a viral hashtag in which survivors and victims of sexual assault, harassment and other forms of misconduct catalogue the reasons why they did not report their experience to law enforcement. The purpose of the campaign is to inform the public of the dangers and risks of making their attacks public.

Origin

On April 11th, 2014, Twitter[1] user @ethipoennesays tweeted, "hi fellow survivors <3 monday 4/14 at 7pm ET/4pm PT i'm hosting a chat using the HT #WhyIDidntReport--if you're able, plz consider sharing." They followed the tweeted, "if you'd like to participate in #WhyIDidntReport anonymously, you can submit your story on whyididntreport.tumblr.com.[2] keep to 140 chars plz :)." The tweets have since deleted, but they were documented on the user's Tumblr (shown below). The Tumblr post has received more than 1,600 notes in four and a half years.


Hannah G @ethiopiennesays hi fellow survivors<3 monday 4/14 at 7pm ET/4pm PT i'm hosting a chat using the HT #WhyDidntReport_if you're able, plz consider sharing Hannah G. ethiopiennesays if you'd like to participate in #WhyDidntReport anonymously, you can submit your story on whyididntreport.tumblr.com. keep to 140 chars plz )

Spread

Following the post, survivors of rape, harassment and other forms of sexual misconduct explained their reasons. For example, one of the earliest uses was posted by Twitter [3] user @sctansey tweeted, "everyone loved him and told me what happened "wasn't that bad" despite his rape being my 1st experience of intercourse. #WhyIDidntReport" (shown below).


everyone loved him and told me what happened "wasn't that bad" despite his r--- being my 1st experience of intercourse. #WhyIDidntReport

2018 Revival

In September 2018, During the Supreme Court confirmation hearings of United States President Donald Trump's nominee Brett Kavanaugh, a woman accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her when they were in high school.

On September 21st, 2018, President Trump tweeted,[4] "I have no doubt that, if the attack on Dr. Ford was as bad as she says, charges would have been immediately filed with local Law Enforcement Authorities by either her or her loving parents. I ask that she bring those filings forward so that we can learn date, time, and place!" The tweet received more than 26,000 retweets, 109,000 likes and 77,000 comments in three days.

That day, actor Alyssa Milano tweeted,[5] "Hey, @realDonaldTrump, Listen the fuck up. I was sexually assaulted twice. Once when I was a teenager. I never filed a police report and it took me 30 years to tell me parents. If any survivor of sexual assault would like to add to this please do so in the replies. #MeToo." The tweet received more than 16,000 retweets and 63,000 likes in three days. She followed the tweet with the hashtag #WhyIDidntReport."

Following the post, victims began sharing their own reasons. For example, Twitter[6] user @David_Leavitt tweeted, "I was four, and he said he’d kill me. #WhyIDidntReport" (shown below, left)


Donald J. Trump e @realDonaldTrump I have no doubt that, if the attack on Dr. Ford was as bad as she says, charges would have been immediately filed with local Law Enforcement Authorities by either her or her loving parents. T ask that she bring those filings forward so that we can learn date, time, and place! Alyssa Milano @Alyssa_Milano Hey, @realDonaldTrump, Listen the f--- I was sexually assaulted twice. Once when I was a teenager, I never filed a police report and it took me 30 years to tell me parents. If any survivor of sexual assault would like to add to this please do so in the replies. #MeToo Donald J. TrumprealDonaldTrump I have no doubt that, if the attack on Dr. Ford was as bad as she says charges would have been immediately filed with local Law Enforcement Authorities by either her or her loving parents. I ask that she bring those filings forward so that we can learn date, time, and place! 10:38 AM 21 Sep 2018 16,234 Retweets 63,825 Likes4 7.6Kt 16K 64K Alyssa Milano Alyssa_Milano Sep 21 #whyl DidntReport I was four, and he said he'd kill me. #Whyl DidntReport

Various Examples


I was drugged and r---- in the Navy. The MP told me if I filed a report I would be charged with adultery because my r----- was married. I would lose my benefits and face a dishonorable discharge. "Let's chalk this up to a bad choice on your part". #WhyIDidntReport #InvisibleWar Because I thought r--- by a stranger entering my house at 2am, with a knife, was my fault because I hadn't locked the door. That's messed up. #metoos #whyldidntreport #whyIDidntReport because I weighed up the pain and trauma of the assault with the pain and trauma of going to court with a lawyer pulling apart every aspect of my sex life to justify why l deserved it. Moving on from the assault was the less traumatic, most protective option
I did, it didn't matter, I was dismissed, disparaged, & I still get blamed #WhyDidntReport a #WhyIDidntReport story in 2 screenshots: the email I sent in Feb. 2011, and the response l received last month ng DInbox x plaint Process Follow-up nbox x Thu, Aug 30, 4:23 PM Feb 4, 2011, 7:12 Pl. Conger e is and I'm the Title IX Coordinator at It has come to my e report that falls under the college's Student Sexual Misconduct Policy foi Students found here. I take all reports seriously and together with the othe all reports are investigated. There is no time limit to making a report. schedule an emergency meeting with you. Will rent that you would like to make a report,Illbe sure to follow up with you p y? complaint by sending an email to me directly or by sending me a complete d). If you prefer to schedule a phone or in person meeting, please email H also copied on this email and she will help us find a time. et me know how you would like to proceed. #Whyl DidntReport I was 14. He was 21. He was my classmates older brother. He was huge compared to me. I was a party thrown by my best friends house by her older brother. He gave me alcohol. He did it in front of 6 others guys. I was humiliated. I was called a slut & a w----.

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