MPs sexually harassed in Canada's parliament: are they victims or survivors?

Do you remember the days when in domestic assault situations, police would be called and the victim would refuse to press charges? Victims of violence have had this Hobson's Choice taken away from

deer friends in the front yard

them. Police, if they are following the law, press charges independent of the victim. Gone are the days when the Catholic Church, and law enforcement, told us that we had to stay with a husband, violence or not. It was our place and our lot in life. This is the same situation here, I believe.

The means by which one goes from being a victim of harassment, (sexual or otherwise), to being a survivor, is to step up and tell your story and speak truth to power. It is empowering. It will create change. If two Members of Parliament cannot step up and tell their stories, then they are perpetuating the myth that women and men should not speak up. They are not at fault. They are victims. Thy must learn to be survivors. There is healing in talking about pain and suffering. When one shares one's story, it lessens the burden. In the telling is healing.

 I was harassed and bullied at work. I spoke out. I wrote a 7-page, single spaced document citing her actions. The powers-that-be covered it up, but internal changes were made. My situation changed, especially after I took a healing leave of absence. I was able to move forward.
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Trudeau-Mulcair distrust deepens amid sexual harassment scandal

National Post‎ - 13 hours ago

Tom Mulcair, the NDP leader, said Thursday Justin Trudeau's decision to publicize the sexual harassment complaints by two NDP MPs against two Liberal ... Trudeau went public with reports of misconduct against the wishes ...

Two Liberal MPs booted from caucus on 'personal misconduct'

www.torontosun.com/.../two-liberal-mps-booted-from-caucus-on-person...

2 days ago - Two MPs have been kicked out of Liberal leader Justin Trudeau's caucus amidst personal ... Multiple reports that one, perhaps two, #LPC MPs suspended from @JustinTrudeau caucus on allegations of sexual harassment.

Common Myths About Sexual Assault - Ontario Coalition of ...

www.sexualassaultsupport.ca/page-535956

A Canadian statistic tells us that victimization surveys show that less than 10% of women who are sexually assaulted report the assault to the police; 

13.  … at work, a certain amount of sexual banter, flirting or jokes is just part of the job?




Fact: Harassment in the workplace is a common abuse of authority. In a 1993 national survey, 23% of Canadian women reported that they had encountered work-related sexual harassment in their lifetime. (H. Johnson, 1994, Work-related sexual harassment. Perspectives on labour and income.).