Personal Narrative: Take Back The Night

I never really knew what sexual violence or rape was until my early teens, and I initially learned about it in the way that most people do, in middle school health class. As I remember it, my teacher gave a fairly sugar coated explanation of what it meant to commit an act of sexual violence against someone. A similarly foggy explanation was given as to what consent was, and this was really all I got. However, it wasn’t until someone very close to me was sexually violated that I fully understood what it was and what it can do to a person emotionally. Out of respect for their privacy, I will keep this person’s identity a secret by never using their name or specific pronouns. In support of their recovery, I began attending what it known as the Take Back the Night walk in the spring of 2014. When I went to the walk that evening, I had no idea that it would change my outlook on life forever. Take Back the Night is a yearly nation-wide protest against sexual violence and human trafficking. There are hundreds of individual walks all around the country and each one tries to remain specific to a locally prominent problem or event relating to sexual violence. In Wichita, it is usually related to the issue of human trafficking and the sex trade. The air at these usually has a very solemn, yet cheerful energy. There is food, music, vendors, and booths from
For example, after the first year I knew that I wanted to do more in support of victims of sexual violence. This desire, in turn, gave rise to me being much more tolerant and understanding of the varying human experiences and lifestyles. In addition, after the second year, I wanted to take a personal oath to intervene when I see a situation when consent to sexual activity has not or cannot be given. It is from these experiences that I have become a much better person, and I intend to go every year for the foreseeable