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Pushing the Princess Off Her Pedestal
Why are we so enraptured by the Blake Lively/Justin Baldoni lawsuit? Could it be about power?
Let’s get the perfunctory bits out of the way, shall we? I am a survivor of rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment. Over a decade ago, a man attacked me in my home, where I felt most safe, and took things from me. Parts of me that will never be repaired or replaced. I am changed. I don’t love as easily or as hard. I’ve built a fortress around my heart and I’ve got my armaments and artillery — ready for battle or ready to flee, but I’m no longer someone who moves easily over the surface of things. Rather, I’m much like an armored tank over a road, spinning up dust every which way I go.
I dress the wounds. I know that healing takes time. I accept I may never be the person I once was.
I reported the harassment at the investment bank where I worked. I told HR about my boss who propositioned me while we were out for drinks with clients. Little did I know my boss was having an affair with the head of HR. A co-worker, who endured taunts about her stockings and the things men could do with them, told me to be quiet. Not make a fuss. Nobody’s going to get fired, she said. Except maybe for us. And nobody did. This was 1998.
