Having once considered themselves worthless before escaping the shadows, survivors of rape and sexual assault who have been helped by the Garden of Hope Foundation yesterday shared their stories and urged the public to show more love and care for sexual assault victims.
“I once believed that I was a worthless, bad woman,” a masked woman nicknamed Hsiao Hui (小惠) said at a press conference in Taipei. “I was raped by someone in my family as a child — I thought it was a game at the time — but then I had a similar experience again, when I was forced by my ex-boyfriend to have sex with him. When I refused, he said I was not a ‘complete’ woman anyway.”
Seeking help from her family, Hsiao Hui said she was repeatedly told that what happened to her was her fault for “not behaving.”
“I was so confused about love and sex, and I did not know the value of my existence. Things got better after I was helped by the foundation,” she said. “I am sorry I have to wear a mask today, because I have not fully recovered yet.”
Another woman, Yaya (芽芽), was also raped as a child by an adult in her family.
“I was confused. I didn’t know what was happening to me. I tried to seek help from older relatives, but I was told to keep my mouth shut about what happened, because it would not be good for me if I told others,” Yaya said.
Yaya said not being able to talk about it with anyone made her suffer mentally.
“I knew there was something deep in my mind, but I could not say it, because others told me not to say anything about it. So gradually, I could not trust anyone anymore, because I could not be fully honest with anyone,” she said.
“I eventually found the people who I could fully trust and depend on — the psychologists at Garden of Hope, and I am proud to say that I am not afraid to be myself anymore, and I could easily talk to people about what I have been through,” Yaya said.
“From the stories, we see that most rape victims feel confused immediately after it happens, and want to seek help, but if they are denied help, they just lock down their own hearts and even deny themselves,” foundation executive director Chi Hui-jung (紀惠容) said.
“We therefore urge the public, especially if you are a family member, a friend, a boyfriend or someone in an intimate relationship with a rape victim, to always show care for them to help them heal,” Chi said.
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