The first word that comes to mind when I think about Anita Hill is change. On February 19th of this year, Arts & Lectures had the pleasure of hosting Hill at Campbell Hall on Campus. Hill is a woman’s rights icon who has changed gender equality in the United States. She is a woman of many accomplishments considering the fact that she is a lawyer, professor, educator, and author. During Hill’s lecture at UCSB, she sparked a newfound passion of mine that was just starting to grow at the time. I had been considering taking a few feminist studies courses and perhaps pursuing a minor in feminist studies as I aspire to one day become an OB-GYN; and Hill’s speech strongly impacted me. As a young woman who has, throughout my life, heard unnecessary comments targeted towards other women that hold negative connotations, I found Hill’s words very inspirational. She had the courage to speak up before any movement was in place and she spoke her truth on a national scale. Her actions, along with the bravery of thousands of other women across the United States, has led to awareness and education around the subject of sexual harassment. Furthermore, since Hill’s testimony in 1991, more women have felt that they are not alone in their experiences. Anita Hill sparked conversations nationwide that allowed women to share their experiences and push forward for change.
Along the same lines of pushing forward for change, April marks the month of sexual assault awareness and although we are all at home in quarantine, there are still things we can do to help those who are struggling. During this odd time, many people are staying home and socially distancing themselves from others to prevent COVID-19 from spreading. Resources that are typically available to victims are currently shut down, and those who suffer from sexual abuse may feel trapped at this moment. It is crucial that we shed light on resources that are available 24/7 to those who are struggling with sexual assault. Listed below is the national sexual assault telephone hotline that routes individuals with a local sexual assault service provider in their area. Furthermore, this time of self-quarantining is the perfect time to reflect on what we can do to help those who have suffered from sexual violence and harassment. We can use our voices to prevent sexual harassment as Anita Hill did many years ago in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and we can choose to believe survivors, respect boundaries, and challenge victim-blaming.
National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline: 800.656.HOPE (4673)