America Ferrera opened up about being sexually assaulted at 9 years old in a candid Instagram post
This week, victims of sexual assault and harassment took to social media to raise awareness about how often acts of sexual misconduct take place. Celebrities and non-celebrities alike shared their sexual assault stories on social media platforms using the tag #MeToo. In a candid Instagram post, America Ferrera opened up about being sexually assaulted at nine years old.
“First time I can remember being sexually assaulted I was 9-years-old,” Ferrera’s #MeToo post read. “I told no one and lived with the shame and guilt thinking all along that I, a 9-year-old child, was somehow responsible for the actions of a grown man.”
A post shared by America Ferrera (@americaferrera) on Oct 16, 2017 at 6:52pm PDT
Her pain was amplified by the fact that she had to see her abuser daily.
“I had to see this man on a daily basis for years to come,” she continued. “He would smile at me and wave, and I would hurry past him, my blood running cold, my guts carrying the burden of what only he & I knew — that he expected me to shut my mouth and smile back.”
A post shared by America Ferrera (@americaferrera) on Aug 12, 2017 at 5:01pm PDT
Ferrera, an active advocate for human rights and equality, called upon her fellow women to “break the silence so the next generation of girls won’t have to live with this bullshit.”
Her powerful story is one amongst countless more. The #MeToo movement started in light of the sexual assault allegations against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, and so many women have come forward about how he, and other powerful men in the industry, have gotten away with sexual assault for years.
A post shared by America Ferrera (@americaferrera) on Aug 1, 2017 at 11:10am PDT
As Ferrera and fellow #MeToo participants know, sexual assault is not just an entertainment industry problem — it’s a widespread societal issue. Although it’s not easy, continuing the conversation will bring light to the injustices victims have suffered and will hopefully bring about a perceptible shift in the ways in which men in our culture use — and yes, abuse — their privilege.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault or violence, you can contact the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800.656.HOPE (4673).
