April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and this topic has continued to be in headlines over the past few weeks. Recent headlines involving public figures, from politics to entertainment, remind us that sexual violence does not have a political party, a specific gender, or a “type” of perpetrator. But as these stories break, the public conversation often turns to two questions: “Why didn’t they say something sooner?” and “How do we know they aren’t lying?”
One of the most common question survivors face is why they waited days, years, or even decades to speak out. We recently saw this with the 60-year silence of historic farmworker icons regarding abuse, and now we see it again in the high-stakes world of state and national politics. For a survivor, silence is often a survival tactic.
When an abuser is a “hero,” a boss, or a beloved public figure, the survivor isn’t just weighing their own safety; they are weighing the “integrity of the movement” or the stability of their career. They stay silent because they feel there is a cost to speaking up, which could include retaliation, being branded a “traitor,” or simply not being believed. For many survivors, the cost of speaking out is higher than the cost of staying silent. In cases involving high-profile figures, silence is more of a lack of safety than it is a lack of truth.
When high-profile allegations surface, fear of “false accusations” often dominates the conversation. However, the data tells a different story. According to the FBI and the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, false reports of sexual assault are rare, consistently hovering between two percent and ten percent.
To put that in perspective, sexual assault has the same “falsehood” rate as any other felony, yet it is the only crime where the victim’s character is immediately put on public trial. When we obsess over the statistically rare two percent, we create a culture of suspicion that silences the 98 percent who are already worried about coming forward.
The recent allegations in headlines are a vital reminder that sexual assault can happen to anyone, and can also be perpetrated by anyone. That is not to incite fear, but instead to break down stereotypes about who this happens to. When we stereotype what a “survivor” or a “perpetrator” looks like, we create blind spots where abuse can thrive, and we know that violence thrives in silence.
When we choose to Start by Believing, we aren’t asking anyone to skip over the justice process. We are leading with empathy and resource connection so they can begin their path to healing and empowerment.
We can continue to be shocked by these headlines, or we can change the culture that makes them inevitable. When you Start by Believing, you are impacting at least one survivor in a positive way. It’s simple: when someone discloses to you, you say 1) I believe you. 2) I’m sorry this happened. 3) How can I help?
You can also support on April 29 by participating in Denim Day. Wear any/all denim that you own, and send us your picture so we can showcase your support.
If you’re planning to attend the first night of playoffs for the Knight Monsters (4/29, Denim Day!), you can purchase discounted tickets at vistarise.org/events, and 20 percent of your purchase will be donated to support services for survivors of sexual assault.
It’s time to start rising with survivors.
Briana Vallejo, Vista Rise Collective
Vista Rise Collective provides 24/7 confidential advocacy and support. If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual violence, call our 24/7 crisis line at 530-544-4444.