Survivors of sexual violence had their personal autonomy taken away from them by their perpetrator during the time of the attack. It is our responsibility–as a society to create the space needed for survivors to regain their sense of self and to help them recover from their assaults. #MeToo helped the nation remove a layer of stigma around sexual violence, often giving survivors a voice for the first time. For members of the U.S Coast Guard that reached out to us, many felt that exact opposite. Several Coast Guardsmen and women immediately removed what they previously posted and even more decided against posting. Through a movement created to give a voice to survivors, some members of the United States Coast Guard felt further silenced.
