Rose tells how an older neighbor used his status as a trusted community member to perpetrate a sexually abusive relationship with her. While in college, Rose confronts what happened to her-contextualizing it both through therapy and women’s studies courses. Rose attempted initially to use legal systems but found that statute limitations and survivor stigmatization made these channels useless. She goes on to elaborate her frustration with her parents’ response and attempts at support. Rose ends up finding some solace in warning other families on the street of her perpetrator’s history of abuse, and in retaliatory vandalism enacted by some young men on her block.
[audio: http://www.stopviolenceeveryday.org/wp-content/uploads/rose-short.mp3]
Download mp3
Rose’s Story Transcript PDF
When “N” becomes financially abusive to her former partner “J”, friends try to hold “N” accountable by putting a club (steering wheel lock) on a shared car.