Zine and Video Series
Reclaim the Narrative
The Reclaim the Narrative Zine was launched in February 2020. This was the second zine created by the STOP Campaign and follows on from the Revealing Truths and Breaking Stigmas zine. The objective was to effectively reclaim the narrative around sexual violence, sharing the art, poetry, prose and stories of victim-survivors and their allies.
The Reclaim the Narrative Video Series consists of 9 videos, each intending to empower the voices of students and alumni of the Australian National University (ANU) who identify as survivors of sexual violence. Each video is a unique and moving reflection of a survivor's story and experience with sexual violence. Through the creation and sharing of these videos, we are aiming to create a safe space in which victim-survivors feel empowered to reclaim their narratives.
Thank you to all brave survivors who participated in this project, and the readers who listened, believed and communicated their stories to the world. We also thank our amazing film and editing crew who made this happen.
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Zine
Video Series
Reclaim the Narrative Video Series Trailer
Content Warning: Sexual Abuse, Support, Speaking Out.
This story was submitted and read by an ANU student. The face you see in this video is the survivor who is sharing their story for the first time on camera.
“Ignorance has allowed sexual violence to survive in our society and it’s time for it to stop.”
This story became our inspiration for the #WeWillSpeak and #WeWillListen campaigns. It is also a reminder that families and friends of survivors have the ability to become more aware of the impact of their behaviour when responding to disclosures of a loved one. We all have the responsibility to listen, believe, acknowledge and support, where possible – this story is a place to start.
One Year On
by Mina
They Say That
The Devil Is In the Act Itself
by Y.A.S.W.I
Content Warning: Sexual Harassment, Lack of Boundaries.
The face you see in this video is NOT the face of the survivor who has shared their story.
“Sexual harassment seemed perfectly fine to me…but it’s not anymore.”
We will continue to raise awareness of the prevalence of sexual harassment/assault; break the silence; and help create a culture of change surrounding inappropriate language and jokes.
The ANU student who read this story out loud has a message for the brave survivor: I Stand With You
Content Warning: Childhood Trauma/Abuse, Sexual Assault.
The face you see in this video is NOT the face of the survivor who has shared their story.
“When I relive those memories, it is as if it had happened only yesterday.”
This story is a reminder that the effects of sexual violence are ongoing and that support for survivors should also remain. In order to reduce the impact of re-traumatisation, it is vital that we provide adequate content warnings prior to releasing potentially triggering content.
The ANU student who read this story out loud has a message for the brave survivor: You Are Strong.
Slut
by Alice Liddell
Cheers to That
by RM
Content Warning: Childhood Abuse/Trauma, Violence, Sexual Assault, Institutional Betrayal, Self-Deprecation.
The face you see in this video is NOT the face of the survivor who has shared their story.
“I wish I didn’t have a story to tell.”
There is a common misconception that perpetrators of sexual violence are often strangers in the dark; however the reality is that 96 percent of women who are sexually assaulted know their perpetrator/s.** Regardless of survivors’ relationship to their perpetrator/s, their stories are real, true, and must be believed. Survivors who experience sexual assault at the hands of a loved one can often be subjected to re-victimisation. We are going to continue to work to raise awareness of these issues that are often overlooked and misunderstood by society.
The ANU student who read this story out loud has a message for the brave survivor: You Are Not To Blame.
Content Warning: Mentions of Sexual Assault.
The face you see in this video is NOT the face of the survivor who has shared their story. “…She did it anyway.”
We would like to acknowledge the male survivors who are often not believed and/or tend to not share their stories. Men are told not to share their experiences and are expected to bottle it up. We want to change this by acknowledging, believing and sharing stories of male survivors. Service Assisting Male Survivors of Sexual Assault (SAMSSA) offers counselling and support to men over the age of 16, and their supporters, in the ACT and surrounding regions. Please refer to www.samssa.org.au for more information.
The ANU student who read this story out loud has a message for the brave survivor: Every Story Counts.
Thin Paltry Paper Man
by Fuchsia
How I Lost and Found Myself
by Fuchsia
Content Warning: Mentions of Sexual Assault.
'I am strong now, and I am committed to prevent this from happening to others. I do not need to share my story to do that.'
The STOP Campaign's founder, Camille, has been the key driver of this project from the initial idea to sourcing stories to producing an 11-part video project series. Initially, Camille shared her story - anonymously. In the end, she decided that not all stories need to be told, and in this case, had the potential to re-traumatise her. Instead, Camille has compiled the messages from readers and sharer Camille made this video as a replacement - one that places importance on supporting and believing others, even if their story has never been told.
These are difficult stories to tell, and every survivor has the right to have their privacy respected.
Content Warning: Sexual Assault.
The face you see in this video is NOT the face of the survivor who has shared their story.
“Healing is a process.”
This story is a reminder that it is important to share all stories, whether positive or negative. Not all stories related to sexual violence have bad outcomes, and the university is working hard to ensure that there are more stories like these to tell. The STOP Campaign has collaborated with the university central coordinating unit, Respectful Relationships, to inform residents of ANU Colleges what the disclosure process is, and what support services are available. A lot of the time, it is a fear of the unknown that prevents survivors from reporting and/or disclosing to the appropriate avenues, and resources like this can pave the way to assuaging these fears.
The ANU student who read this story out loud has a message for the brave survivor: I Support You.
I'm Not My Trauma
by E.L
June 11, 2011
by S.E.H
Content Warning: Sexual Harassment/Violence, Controlled Eating, Panic Attacks.
The face you see in this video is NOT the face of the survivor who has shared their story.
“Recovery takes consistent effort and determination, but do not get me wrong, it is very very much possible.”
Being a survivor of sexual violence can often lead to a variety of mental health issues, short and long term. While it is important to address the mental health behaviours directly, we also need to take a trauma-informed approach in order to understand that a case of sexual violence may be the root-cause. This approach recognizes that, in order for survivors to heal, they need to be respected, informed, connected, and hopeful regarding their own recovery; a process that should be adopted by all professionals working in this space.
The ANU student who read this story out loud has a message for the brave survivor: You Are Not Alone.
Content Warning: Manipulation.
The face you see in this video is NOT the face of the survivor who has shared their story.
“I loved his energy. I didn’t like his ego.”
This story is a reminder that, particularly within the university campus environment, perpetrators are often within your social circle. The feeling of having to ‘fit-in’ can add to the social pressures experienced by survivors, especially when the perpetrator has worked to build a connection with them. It can be difficult to recognise these forms of manipulation and emotional abuse; a form of abuse that is often neglected from the common discourse. 1800RESPECT has a 24/7 Hotline and Chatline with trained professionals on the other end to assist in getting help. Find out more information here: https://www.1800respect.org.au/.
The ANU student who read this story out loud has a message for the brave survivor: I Believe In You.