This post and the one that otakugyrl made wiht the other link really hits home. I am a surviving victim of rape at the hands of a boyfriend. The year prior to that rape I was sexually assualted by someone I had thought was a friend. It doens't matter who the person is. Like you said. No means no. It is ad that there are so many out there that don't heed those words, but sadder still that most times when women finally stand up to have their words heard- they are the accused; being told it was their own fault for the way they dressed, the person they were with, the places they were at.

I sadly never spoke up and both my attacker and rapist got away with their crime. They had been two of the final events that pushed my to my first suicide attempt because I felt I had no one I could turn to, to talk to... It took me 9 years to get to the point where I could finally talk about it without the nightmares haunting me every night, the nerves causing me to break down and just start shaking.

But I will admit... To this day I still feel violently ill when I see a car that looks like theirs, or see someone who lookes even remotely like them. Even more so when I hear their name- even when it belongs to someone else. It still affects me- but I thank God I am still alive... For I know in both cases things could have ended a great deal worse.

Thank you for posting this and I hope that otakugyrl sees this post in thanks to her for posting her post as well. More woman need to know just what you both have said.