The official numbers on estimated rates of sexual assault of women generally come in at 1 in 5 or 1 in 4. Honest to god, I think this is wrong. I am quite convinced that the real numbers are probably 9 in 10.

For a long time we’ve been placing the shame of assault on the victim. That created an epic culture of silence, that finally is breaking. Every year I hear more and more stories from friends. Many stories from long ago, stories that I should have been told 20 yrs ago. Stories that fill you with rage. Stories that make you want to vomit. Stories that make you have to pull the car over and cry for a while. I don’t know if I know an American woman who hasn’t been violently sexually assaulted.

Say what you want about the me too movement, but I will forever be grateful for that cultural moment that broke the silence. As Gisèle Pelicot says, “shame must change sides”, and this gives me a bit of hope for my daughters.