Posted in Shin blog in Saloona: http://saloona.co.il/shin_movement/?p=42&preview=true
Romi Alimi and Shira Padva, 16-year-old girls taking part in Young Women Parliament and in Young Women for Change (Nemesh) in Kfar Saba, have shared their experiences of sexual harassments as part of a discussion about the #MeToo movement in the committee on the status of women and gender equality in the Knesset. Despite the difficult subject, they found some silver lining.
Romi and Shira shared their personal experiences with the members of the committee, and told them how – at their early age – they have already been sexually harassed:
Romi Alimi, 16 years old, told the committee about the first time she was sexually assaulted: “A man on the street decided he can touch me and suggest his remarks. I remember the date because I had an important test that same morning in history, and all I could think about was that I was going to fail. I was very offended. I got hysterical and the first thing I did was call my mother. She tried to calm me down a bit.
That same night I got home and talked to my mother. I had no idea she went through the same things and even more painful ones.
A few weeks ago I found myself, like every girl my age, on Instagram. This was where I came across a post regarding the #metoo movement. I have to say I wasn’t very keen on the idea. I was afraid people would take this opportunity and turn it from something pure and wonderful to something negative.
I consulted my mother and told her my concerns. For my mother, this campaign was amazing, and after this talk, for me, it became even more amazing. For the first time my mother told me what she had been through. I never imagined my mother, that strong woman nothing could undermine, went through stuff like that, such horrors. I really believe if these things happened nowadays – it would end up in prison.
I don’t have a strong opinion on the campaign, but I see its influence. It affects women who have gone through similar experiences, including my mother. It made them open up and share, just like my mother shared her stories with me.
How does it affect young girls?
It makes us understand we are not alone. When I was assaulted I was afraid to talk about it. It is actually the first time sharing my story in public. For me, the campaign raises awareness and illustrates just how common this phenomenon is, without legitimizing it. It makes teenagers who were sexually harassed or who would be in the future realize they are not alone and give them the confidence to stand up and tell their stories.
And for me? It also brought me closer to my mother and bonded us in a way we never had before.”
Shira Padva, also 16, shared her recent experience from just last saturday: “I am really into sports. Last saturday I went jogging with my father. After we jogged I stopped for stretches, as required. During that time (around 10pm) there were hardly any cars out. Then a car drove by, some young men were in it and one of them pulled his head out of the car and yelled at me. My father asked, ‘Was this yell aimed at you?’ and I answered indifferently, ‘Yes. This is what it’s like being a woman.’
I am only 16. I am only 16 and I’ve already learned to ignore street whistles and drive-by catcalls. I am only 16 and I don’t walk alone at night. I am only 16 and I don’t go alone to the restroom. Or to a party. I don’t go to the beach alone. I am only 16, but I already know the statistics are one in one. And I refuse to accept it. I refuse to accept the fact that some people treat me as an object. I will not accept that even in this time and age every woman is sexually harassed in the course of her life. I try to imagine, what could possibly go through the man’s head, the harasser. Where exactly does he find the legitimacy to invade the privacy of the person in front of him – be it a man or a woman. Maybe he doesn’t think it has consequences, or he doesn’t think anyone would know. This reality is twisted.
I think campaigns such as #metoo can make a change. We as girls have great power. We have the power to be the change we want to see. We can shape the future. By sharing, by opening up and understanding that shame is on the perpetrator and not on us, we can change the statistics of one out of one. When everyone is aware, when it is clear we will not be silenced, when we show the world how strong we are – then I believe we can change the statistics. #Metoo is the beginning of the process. Sharing and creating a virtual community, supporting each and every survivor, is what will end sexual violence.
We each have to be Wonder Woman, and I don’t mean superpowers or saving the human race. I mean Gal Gadot. Gal Gadot has started the next stage of mending our society, which is the practical stage. She refuses to participate in the sequel for Wonder Woman as long as Brett Ratner, who was accused of sexual harassment, is taking part in the movie production.
So I am optimistic. I hope we take matters into our hands and I hope we succeed in fixing our own reality, changing the statistics, and that I would be able to walk around on the beach by myself.”