RWO's August 2021 Edition

Page 250

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SHINING WITH COURAGE YOU ARE ENOUGH. BY NICOLE HEROUXOF WILLIAMS I PHOTOS BY NSP STUDIOCARDWELL BY KATIE FLAHERTY I PHOTOS LAURA MARINO & CHRISTOPHER

Did you know that Nearly 1 in 5 women in the United States have been raped at some time in their lives? Nearly a quarter (24.8%) of men in the U.S. experience some form of sexual violence. Most female victims (42.2%) experienced their first completed rape before the age of 18 years. More than one-quarter of male victims (27.8%) experienced their first rape when they were 10 years of age or younger.

voice, with no support as you are being reminded daily to not share these experiences with anyone as you will be sent to hell with no way out. Being 5 years old, you have no idea what hell means. But you do know it is a bad place where nobody will

Imagine going through your life as child, through the eyes of an innocent little girl. A little girl that loved making mud pies, playing with rollie polies, swinging on the swing set, taking long walks with grandma, dressing up in grandma’s dresses, skirts, heels, pearls and pretending to drive in her 2 door maroon 1970s car. One who was being sexually assaulted by an outside member of the family and being too young to understand what was happening. Nobody knew what was happening and there were no signs of unusual activity. As a child, being rewarded with every act as if it seems like it’s supposed to happen. So, it must be normal right? Even if it seemed normal, these acts were not only horrifying but they make you feel isolated and alone…. with no 250

ROCHESTER WOMAN ONLINE : AUGUST EDITION 2021

ever find you again. When you get older and understand, you feel as if you have done something wrong and since you are in so much fear and suffering, you feel as if you are unworthy. Unworthy to deserve love, respect, safety, and even hope. This story not only reflects my life, but so

many others who have fallen victim to being sexually assaulted. Sexual Assault doesn’t discriminate or have boundaries. It can come in many forms, affects men and women of all ages. Many forms of abusers could be a friend, neighbor, family member or even a stranger. Sexual abuse can create emotional and physical consequences. So many times, we feel we must do it alone. First there are the emotional consequence. You deal with guilt, unworthiness, self-hatred, depression, lack of purpose, trust issues, anxiety, affecting relationships first with yourself and then creating healthy relationships with others. It creates constant fear and no matter how many good things happen you are always waiting for something bad to happen. This causes so much anxiety daily. About 33% of women have contemplated suicide and 13% attempted suicide. Depression is the number one effect of suffering from a sexual disorder or dysfunction. Mainly because you feel inferior to others, not able to make your spouse or significant other happy, feelings of being a failure, loss of purpose and fear of rejection. Never in my life did I feel so ashamed


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Articles inside

WELL TRAIL

8min
pages 418-421

SEEING THE SIGNS

5min
pages 422-430

EMPOWERING EACH OTHER

3min
pages 416-417

SEXUALLY SPEAKING

11min
pages 408-415

MENTALLY THINKING

13min
pages 396-407

LIFE IN BALANCE

5min
pages 382-385

LOCAL BUSINESS MATTERS

6min
pages 378-381

MIND, BODY & SPIRIT

4min
pages 386-389

YOU MATTER

4min
pages 376-377

WELLNESS 360

4min
pages 372-375

KARMA SPEAKS

11min
pages 364-371

B.MOR

4min
pages 356-359

SECOND LOOK

2min
pages 360-363

TRACY TALKS

4min
pages 280-283

HER EDGE

8min
pages 350-355

MANIFESTING YOUR TRUE PURPOSE

2min
pages 340-343

FINANCIALLY SPEAKING

6min
pages 318-321

DR J’S BEAUTY

4min
pages 312-317

DIVI9 CHAT

4min
pages 306-311

AGAINST ALL ODDZ

2min
pages 302-305

ONCE IN A BLUE MOON

5min
pages 284-289

MEDICARE MINUTE

2min
pages 298-301

BUSINESS TALK

4min
pages 294-297

TAMMY’S TIDBITS

4min
pages 268-271

ALL ACCESS

4min
pages 262-267

UNSTOPPABLE WOMAN

3min
pages 256-261

SAVON SPEAKS

1hr
pages 136-225

HEAL. EMPOWER. RECLAIM

2min
pages 250-253

LADY O

3min
pages 132-134

ONE TOUGH MOTHER

4min
pages 122-125

QUEEN OF ARTS

4min
pages 126-131

WHAT IS YOUR SUPERPOWER?

4min
pages 90-99

CNY INSPIRING WOMAN

16min
pages 58-89

B-UNTETHERED

4min
pages 108-113

BEHIND THE CROWN

5min
pages 114-119

IN HER OWN WORDS

3min
pages 100-107

BLACK WOMEN ROC

32min
pages 38-57
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