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My name is Sarah and I live in a small farming town in the central valley of California.
I am currently at my local community college, having recently graduated high school a year early in the top 10% of my class. One of the top reasons I left school was because I was bullied throughout high school. That ultimately led me to want to stand up for myself and others.
I am a communications major studying to be a journalist. I am a full time college student and also work in a restaurant as a busser. I also am a Christian. I enjoy reading, especially Stephen King books. I play about twelve musical instruments, speak French, and I am on the road to learning sign language.
I found PARC while preparing a presentation for a public speaking class. Our assignment was to deliver a speech on a topic about which we are passionate. I immediately thought of the injustice rape victims face and found the term rape culture. From there i found PARC, saw that they were looking for an intern and immediately applied.
I got involved with PARC because of their mission to stand up to rape culture. It really made sense to me, this idea of a culture where it is the victim’s fault and the rapists rarely get jail time. I joined because this culture perpetuates the idea that women are objects and men are mindless and animalistic - and I want to change that!
I will be helping PARC by writing articles focusing on the perspective of a college student. I will also be running the PARC tumblr page. I’m really excited to be sharing and also learning more from others. I am excited to be a part of an organization that is making a difference.
I want to help change this culture for my two little sisters, who are being taught that spaghetti straps are a distraction to boys’ learning. That they will be looked at inappropriately, and that it should be a compliment. They will be taught to tolerate harassment from boys and men, because that’s just how it is. They will be taught that if they wear a short skirt, or show skin they are putting themselves at risk for an attack. That if the go to a party and get drugged they should have watched their drink. That they will probably be harassed or discriminated against in school if they were to come out as gay or bisexual.
I want people to know that if someone says no, it doesn’t mean let me convince you. I believe our society does have a rape culture, but I also believe nothing is broken beyond repair. I want to be a part of the change, for my friends, my sisters and ultimately for generations to come.
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Welcome aboard, Sarah! Check out her latest work at PARC's tumblr page.