I grew up with pain, guilt, and the responsibility of caring for my siblings. When I was 10, I was sexually abused by my uncle and my grandfather, over and over again. I grew up carrying that burden alone, convincing myself it was normal. My parents’ beatings were part of everyday life. I had no one to trust.
I lived in a hidden world where human evil shows its most atrocious face; but I show the strength to not let myself be defeated, the love for my little son, to embrace him again, to feel his soft face against mine, to see his smile and to fulfill the promise to always take care of him.
Sexual aggression and attacks against women are all too common and horrifying. For immigrant women, the risk of experiencing sexual assault is even greater, particularly when pursuing education, employment, and access to social and healthcare services. Unfortunately, even when they seek medical care, they are often subjected to sexual assault by medical professionals.
