01.19.08
empowered
Posted in Reads, Social Responsibility According to Me at 11:52 am by meldee
Thank you everyone who saw my letter to the editor in The Star yesterday (my third letter in two weeks, woots! A friend joked they should just give me my own column already, heh) and expressed your support.
It wasn’t easy deciding to share this with…uhh..pretty much the entire country and I know I will have to face the consequences. There will be unhappy parties from the uni (I anticipate more hate blog-entries about me, but la dee dah so what it just proves I’ve touched a raw nerve) and perhaps some who’ve read it will think, “So? Doesn’t she have any sense of humour?”.
I refer to my letter “Sexual Harassment is Not OK“. Yes, I’ll probably be questioned by relatives on my experience during Chinese New Year, etc, but you know what? I don’t care. I’m proud that I have the guts to speak out and I will reiterate this fact here: I AM NOT A VICTIM.
Yes, I was sexually harassed. But instead of keeping quiet about it, I empowered myself and spoke out. I shared my experience. I told people who’d previously thought there wasn’t anything wrong with it that there IS, that it’s a violation of their rights.
And now, it heartens me even more to find that I’ve accomplished what I hoped to do: inspire other young women out there to speak out.
There were two more letters in today’s paper: “It’s Not Funny to Degrade Women” and “Angry and Distraught Over Sexual Harassment“.
I am so proud and inspired by these two other women who spoke out against sexual harassment. I hope that this will only be the beginning. I know it’s a long, hard road to travel especially if one feels alone, but real change takes a long time.
I’m glad I took the first step. If anyone is going to call me a bitch about this, yo, ma, I don’t give a shit. Cos as cheesy as it sounds, the corny acronym for BITCH could totally apply to me: Babe In Total Control of Herself.
In yo’ face, child.
(pardon the drama -.- I’ve been watching too many episodes of America’s Next Top Model from previous cycles)
Dr. Tan said,
January 19, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Gogo!
Serve that mother fucker right for that. Thank god he lost the elections.
Peter you mofo, if you’re reading this, we didn’t make you lose, the people did.
meldee: heh thanks yeehou.
ish said,
January 19, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Hey Mel, you need to fix up that first link, you’ve got too many “http://”s in there.
I remember you telling about that incident in here and I read that letter you’ve written. It’s a great step you’ve taken I tell you. Till the time the people don’t realize it’s wrong and what the consequences could be, they won’t learn. You’ve taken the first step, the world will surely follow and hopefully one day, everything will be fine.
Though the last line does sound like something from a cheesy TV program or as if I’m daydreaming but I really hope it happens, y’know.
meldee: cheers ish, i’ve rectified the problem. thank you thank you for your support!
sulz said,
January 19, 2008 at 1:51 pm
fuyoh, some people’s headline so darn huge in the papers yesterday.
i’ll remember you if ever a guy has the urge to grope me. 
without my permission, that is.
meldee: haha thanks sulz! ya i was so surprised to see it that huge, heh! you do that, girl
Shazeea said,
January 19, 2008 at 10:56 pm
I don’t get The Star so I didn’t know until someone told me today. You’re such a wonderful inspiration to all women out there.
And I miss you much.
xo
meldee: aww, thanks shazee!
you’re a wonderful inspiration too*hugs*. i’ll be seeing you soon when uni starts again. take care dear!
Sarah said,
January 21, 2008 at 7:20 am
It’s nice to read that people are actually doing something about Male Chauvinistic creatures are actually starting to understand the legal requirements in regards to what is sexual abuse. Woman are expected to have sexual comments, un-permission groping and treated like pieces of meat….
I hope Australia can follow these footsteps… I’m proud of you Mel and missing you heaps!
You Go Girl!
mingchoi said,
January 24, 2008 at 10:06 am
Hey girl.
I am so so proud of you. Cheh wah. Although i only knew you briefly and through a friend sommor
Your article will serve as a reminder to a group of my male friends that pushing a girl down on the floor and “tickling” her is not a “joke”. Not when the girl on the floor felt like she was being raped.
xxx
mingchoi