Finally, USA Today did a great job in making the connection between the trauma of sexual assault with the trauma of the assault on the Capitol and members of Congress. Although previous outlets seemed, by their headlines, to be oblivious, this was actually the main point that AOC was making:
USA Today: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is explaining something about trauma. Experts say we should listen.
USA Today noted, "Trauma experts say Ocasio-Cortez's reaction is normal and expected, and her account aligns with what science shows happens to a mind and body under extreme forms of stress. When someone has a history of trauma, a new traumatic event, even if it's a different type of trauma, can reactivate similar feelings. It's likely, experts said, that Ocasio-Cortez's experience with sexual assault intensified what she endured at the Capitol."
USA Today quoted Jennifer G????mez, a psychology professor at Wayne State University, who said that sexual assault "is a violation that takes their power away. ... The insurrection also is very deliberately and explicitly taking power away, with harm directed at specific targets, like women of color, more than others, like white men...AOC, and all the many others who have experienced violence, is reacting normally to extreme events. The links between sexual assault and the insurrection, in particular, are profound."
USA Today also quoted Kristen Barber, a sociology professor at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, who said "Watching these images (is) triggering for people who experience the everyday violence of white male supremacy, whether that's Black men who are patrolled by white police officers on the street or women who feel threatened by white men in their spaces on a daily basis...It's a reminder of the everyday stresses that come with living in a world that's shaped by white masculinity ... and that your wellness comes second to their expressions of dominance, which they see as their right."
Experts say demonstrations of white masculinity have mental health impacts on everyone, but especially women, and can create stress, anxiety and trauma.
For the first time in its history, the American Psychological Association (APA) issued guidelines to help clinicians improve the health of boys and men, declaring that certain aspects of "traditional masculinity" were "harmful" in a report that was backed by more than 40 years of research. The APA defines traditional masculinity as "a particular constellation of standards that have held sway over large segments of the population, including: anti-femininity, achievement, eschewal of the appearance of weakness, and adventure, risk, and violence." The results of the guidelines triggered the predictable responses from conservatives who say that the report constitutes an attack on American men.
It's well worth watching Ocasio-Cortez' Instagram Live recording, although some, like me, may need to do it in small doses to avoid rekindling our own PTSD.
This is the full letter AOC sent out Tuesday afternoon (trigger warnings here, also, but reading this is easier than watching the video for anyone with previous traumas):
Monday night, I hopped on IG live to talk about what happened at the Capitol. My story is one of many. It's not the only story or the central story.
But, it's important to share because so many of the people who helped perpetrate what happened are trying to tell us to move on and forget about what happened - saying it isn't a big deal.
They're asking us to move on for their own convenience. These are the same tactics used by abusers. What they are really asking is: "Can you forget about this so we can do it again?"
I'm a survivor of sexual assault, and I haven't told many people that in my life. But when we go through trauma, whether we have neglectful parents or any kind of trauma, these episodes can compound on one another. Part of my hesitancy to tell this story until now has to do with some of my trauma. As a survivor, I struggle with the idea of being believed.
Many Republicans have done everything they can to try to rewrite history. They say we're exaggerating or stoking tensions or even that I should apologize. Senators Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz have had nearly a month to apologize for their role, but over and over they've doubled down and said they did the right thing and if they could go back, they'd do it all again. That's why they need to resign, because they will do it again.
First, let's dispel the idea that this insurrection happened suddenly - that there was no way for Hawley, Cruz or Trump not to see this violence coming or anticipate their role in stoking it. Everyone knew something was going to happen.
One week before, I started to get text messages from other members of Congress saying that I needed to be careful on Wednesday. So I started thinking through a security plan with my staff.
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