The #MeToo and #TimesUp movements have gone well beyond their Twitter beginnings, making sexual assault a hotbed topic in the media, toppling high-profile personalities in entertainment, sports, politics and corporate boardrooms. Though the campaigns were born in the U.S., Canada has not been immune — witness the headlines generated from accusations against broadcasters Jian Ghomeshi and Gregg Zaun, or more recently two provincial Conservative leaders, Jamie Baillie in Nova Scotia and Patrick Brown in Ontario.
Celebrity names may have pushed the issue forward with lightning speed, but it is certainly not just a phenomenon among those in a media spotlight. Well before allegations against men like Harvey Weinstein and Matt Lauer opened up the Pandora’s box on sexual assault and harassment, Catholic groups were providing resources for prevention and rehabilitation for everyday victims.
“The focus of Me Too was primarily on celebrities,” said Sr. Christine Minicucci, a Carmelite sister and spiritual director of Women of the Word, an organization that provides hope, healing and restoration to women who have experienced trauma. “We don’t hear about the every day women who go through the same thing.
“It’s important that these high-profile women are sharing their experiences, but we cannot forget about the vulnerable women — the poor, the Indigenous, who encounter the same experiences. We need to make sure these women are also getting the help they need.”
Women of the Word was founded in 2009 by a group of Catholic women to provide support and healing for women of all faith backgrounds. The organization provides safe spaces for women to share their stories and listen to others in hopes that solidarity can lead to healing.
“We send the message that each and every one of us carries hurt or some kind of brokenness that affects our lives,” said Mary Filangi, one of the founders of Women of the Word. “Sometimes women speak about having been raped or sexually assaulted, the wound that was created and how it changed who they were.”
Participants range from young women in their early 20s to grandmothers. Despite the drastic age gaps, the women bond through shared experiences. According to Filangi, many of the stories of sexual harassment and assault are similar, whether they happened five minutes ago or 50 years ago.
"We cannot forget about the vulnerable women – the poor, the Indigenous, who encounter the same experience."
- Sr. Christine Minicucci
“When we have grandmothers in the group and someone is talking about sexual assault, we just assume that they won’t be able to relate,” said Filangi. “But they are the ones nodding their heads the most and saying, ‘Yes, I understand. I went through that too.’ But many of these older women did not have an opportunity to speak up about what happened to them. For them to hear someone speaking about a situation they suffered through, they can finally know they are not alone.”
Women of the Word hosts regular events with guest speakers who share their experience. In April, Catholic speaker, author and former America’s Next Top Model contestant
“It’s time that we talk about these things and stop hiding under the covers,” said Filangi. “The more we keep things locked up, the greater the wound becomes. There’s no healing when someone is denied their truth.”
Hollywood, which has fed the sexualization of society since its inception, is now trying to play a bigger role in healing the damage. Several films nominated for this year’s Academy Awards deal with themes of sexual harassment, assault and the grey area of consent. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, nominated for seven awards, including best picture, deals head on with the horrors of rape. Other films like Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird deal with the complexity surrounding consensual sexual relations. Consent has become another hot topic following sexual assault allegations against comedian and outspoken feminist Aziz Ansari. The allegations spurred an outcry for more male education about consent.
“It’s about men being better husbands and fathers,” said Foronda. “If we do not teach our sons to respect women, it is likely that they are going to end up going down a bad path.”
For Minicucci, the goal is to create a world in which the human body is considered sacred and sexual assault is eradicated.
“We’ve reached the point where women are getting tired and frustrated of hearing about sexual assault after sexual assault,” said Minicucci. “It’s time to start setting some standards for the treatment of women in our society.”