NEWS
Within Reach Campaign | March 10, 2018
From Military Survivor to Militant Healer
An Interview with WCA Champion,
Sharon Robino-West
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Sharon is a former WCA employee and currently works
at the Omaha VA Medical Center, with homeless veterans, many who
have been affected by domestic violence and sexual assault. She is
an advocate who serves from her personal experience of
being sexually assaulted while serving in the military.
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WHY DOES THE WCA MATTER TO YOU?
The WCA is near and dear to my heart because there really isn’t anywhere else out there that can help women and men deal with domestic violence and sexual assault. I was sexually assaulted in the military many years ago. I didn’t tell anybody about it for 30 years. Few people report because saying something would ruin your career. And on top of that, people who report don’t get a good discharge when they retire, which has an effect on your benefits and future jobs.
WHAT HAS HELPED YOU TO HEAL?
When I worked at the WCA, I facilitated a women’s support group for survivors of sexual assault. The ladies were all so courageous. It was as much therapy for me as it was for them. Mostly it was a check in for everybody; it was the only place people could freely speak their minds.
We also did a little writing, journaling, vision boards. Writing has been a thing I’ve done all through my life. I could always turn to that; I could always pick up my pen. That was something I shared with the women in my support group. It was like walking or breathing and it was always accessible, a tangible way to get things out.
WHAT DO YOU THINK COULD SHIFT THE CULTURE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT IN OUR COMMUNITY?
Believe and protect victims. All of the stuff that’s going on with Harvey Weinstein right now, people are being triggered and re-traumatized. I‘m militant about protecting the victims who have experienced this.
There is often so much shame around being victimized. Predators use that to blame the victim. The “You were drinking this, you were smoking that.” But you, dear predator, were aware of that and you took advantage. That is not a victim’s fault. I spent a lot of support group meetings soothing women through that.
80% of all assailants are known to their victims. Yet victims believe they did something to bring this on. It’s called grooming. Predators so often groom their victims, but they also groom everyone around them, “He’s my golf buddy, he wouldn’t do it,” or, “She’s a good mother, she wouldn’t go after that high school football player.” Society perpetuates the myth and helps the perps with their grooming. This all undermines the victim. We have to take back our power. This can be through silent strength, confident feminism, supporting each other, and what I like to call militant activism. That’s me! The militant Marine! I will always be proud of my service and feel they lost a good leader. Ultimately, it’s their loss and mine.
WHEN WE SAY THE WCA IS WITHIN REACH,
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU?
The WCA makes assistance assessable to everyone, even active duty military personnel. It’s really hard when you’re in it. I had nowhere to go. The WCA has support groups for people in the military, somebody to talk to somewhere to go. And if they decide to stay in the service, they have to deal with it somehow, deal with their perpetrator every day.
Watch Sharon’s TedxOmaha talk.
It’s Not Your Fault
By Sharon Robino-West
I am militant in my stance:
I will never back down in calling out the predators
And reminding people how they operate
Especially the most cunning operators in the bunch.
If you were victimized,
It wasn’t your fault.
If you were taken advantage of while drunk or high,
They should be ashamed of their behavior, not you.
If someone close to you that should have protected you
Neglected you and left you vulnerable,
That wasn’t your fault either.
Take back your power.
Stand up and take it back now.
Because there are a whole bunch of us here waiting to stand with you.
The time has finally come,
To step into the light.
