The Night America Told Me that Sexual Assault is Okay

Last night, Donald Trump was elected president. I, like many Americans, couldn't believe it. My Facebook page was drowning in legitimate criticism about his policies, racism, sexism, ableism, etc. People were outraged at the people who voted for third party candidates and the people who wrote in Harambe. 

My anger, however, is reserved for the 53% of white women who voted for this man. A man who brags about committing sexual assault and is on trial for raping a 13-year-old girl.

I wanted to blame this all on the white men who have been socialized since birth that sexual assault is okay. I wanted to blame this on the system that failed to teach consent to our nation's boys. I wanted to blame this on the news stations that actually debated about whether or not it was sexual assault that Trump was bragging about. 

But, no. I have to blame the women on this earth that look like me. I have to blame my sister who, despite having two young daughters, sees nothing wrong with a man in power violating women's consent and "grabbing them by the pussy." I have to blame my Florida roommate for not voting because she believes that deleting e-mails and raping children are equal crimes... and having to choose between the two was just too hard. I have to blame the female teachers I had who told me that a boy grabbing my butt without was just his way of saying he liked me. 

Every time I see Donald Trump, I am reminded of the man who raped me when I was 14. When I see the women in my life who voted for him, I see the same women who asked me what I was wearing, who told me I was asking for it... and who ultimately convinced me that it was all my fault. 

Thanks to these women, I will be triggered every time I see the next President of the United States. Thanks to these women, people across the country have been affirmed in their belief that sexual assault, touching women without their consent, and raping women is okay. 

These women chose protecting their white privilege over protecting their fellow women. I will never forgive them. Last night, they told me that my consent does not matter. I've matured enough to know that isn't true. But, I don't know who will be there to tell the women who come after me that their consent is so important. And as I push away my tears, trying desperately to overcome my personal feelings and experience, I hope that my anonymous post can be enough to remind my fellow warriors that their voices matter... that their consent matters... that they matter to this world and to me. 

Despite what the election of Donald Trump says, committing a sexual act without consent is unacceptable and criminal. Without consent, it is assault. And I have to believe that this country agrees with me. I hope they do. Or else, this isn't a country I want to be in.