Lena Dunham writes of her sexual assault in her controversial memoir, “Not That Kind of Girl.”
Sexual Assault Victims
The “Girls” creator, 28, said she was inspired by the courage of other rape survivors to write of her own sexual assault. “When I finally chose to share my story, I did not do so in a vacuum,” she wrote in an article discussing her memoir. “I was inspired by all the brave women who are now coming forward with their own experiences, despite the many risks associated with speaking out.”
Sexual Assault Victims Speak Out
Her intention for detailing her own sexual assault was to inspire others who have had similar experiences with sexual assault to come forward and share there stories, a process she believe is crucial to the healing process. She wrote:
‘I was ready to admit to the ways being sexually assaulted has shaped my sense of self as a woman entering adulthood, compromised my emotional security, and haunted me even during the most joyful periods of my life. I hoped I might inspire others to share, and that forming these connections would assist us all in healing.’
Negative Reaction
It seems that Dunham’s revelation was met with a negative reaction. “I have been attacked online with violent and misogynistic language,” she wrote. “Reporters have attempted to uncover the identity of my attacker despite my sincerest attempts to protect this information. My work has been torn apart in an attempt to prove I am a liar, or worse, a deviant myself.”
But despite all the criticism she’s received, she’s also learned what it’s like to come out as a survivor, writing: ‘Since coming out as a survivor I have gone from an intellectual sense of the ways in which victims are doubted and debased to a bone-deep understanding of this reality. I hope to apply that understanding to art and advocacy. I am deeply grateful for the support I have received. I am deeply grateful that this dialogue is taking place. I am angry but I am not alone.’
Source: Page Six, Why Lena Dunham wrote about her sexual assault, December 10, 2014
