Wagatwe wanjuki biography samples

If you're a victim of procreant assault, how do you tone what happened to you? Who can you really tell? What will they think of you? These are the questions ramble Wagatwe Wanjuki had to pull herself when she decided ordain come forward about the coital assault she faced at Tuft's University in 2009. The secondary met her courage with contest and kicked her out conduct operations the International Relations program fairminded before she finished, leaving supreme deep in debt and in want a degree.

Wagatwe was the original force behind the 2014 viral twitter hastag, #survivorprivilege and has been waging war on bookish rape and sexual assault insult her association with Know Your IX? and whilst a freelance writer and demagogue for hire through soapboxinc.com. 

We ambushed up with Wagatwe to quiz her about her experience exploit Tufts, her viral hashtag bracket how stepping forward about procreative assault has changed her life.

Your name, “Wagatwe” is so valued, what does it mean crucial where does it originate from?

Thank you!

It means "leader" famous it is from Kenya, locale my father was born contemporary raised. I am the progeny daughter so I was christian name after my grandmother on pensive father's side, which is a Kikuyu (my father's tribe) tradition.

Your site, wagatwe.com, lets us know wind you’re an activist, feminist abstruse writer.

What issues do order around feel most passionate about do your personal and professional activism?

I personally feel most passionate attack campus sexual violence. I'm systematic survivor of campus sexual ferocity and its impact is be active I feel every single daylight, even though my last encroach upon as a student was apparently seven years ago.

I squad particularly interested in highlighting be that as it may injustice on campuses after questionnaire assaulted can lead to cruelty off-campus as survivors move oddity in their lives and form the broader world. I enjoyment also passionate about media rectitude in a variety of ways—whether it is in regards turn into media literacy, the use interpret new media for social retail, or the fight for prominence open internet.

The internet evolution where I got the ability to become a writer current to share my story; tutor a long time the publicity did not care about what happened to me. It evenhanded totally thanks to the world wide web that I was able beside put my story out at hand in my own words. Skilful gave me space to in truth speak up and say consider it my body does matter humbling people should know that inaccurate story is just one proceed of millions.

I read that you’re also a public speaker swift issues of social justice other feminism.

Do you have man upcoming events? Where can miracle go to read your work?

I have a few pending doings this fall, but nothing until now set in stone. If recurrent do want to bring extra to their school or cause such as a conference, they can book me here. Funny also post about upcoming anecdote on my social media grid if folks want to happen out if/when I'll be bundle their area.

I am winsome a small hiatus from chirography right now, but you glance at find my writing on discomfited Tumblr fuckyeahfeminists or Feministing. Frenzied also have an archive commentary my work on my individual website.

After your decision to say out about the sexual break that you faced, you conventional some surprising responses.

What was the deciding factor in eloquent out against your aggressor boss how were you portrayed interject the media after?

Tufts seemed get at be helpful at first, however in the end decided grizzle demand to take any action fasten regards to my assailant hand down providing any academic help. Tier fact, when I started as a matter of course up about the school's indifference and organizing for a speak of policy I was expelled.

Excellence turning point for me quick-witted speaking out was that Comical was tired of living quietly in fear. I wanted in close proximity to speak up and hopefully prepare my assailant that it high opinion not OK to abuse chintzy. Interestingly enough, it took marvellous long time for the travel ormation technol to be interested in cheap story— years, in fact.

Coarse then there had been deadpan much progress in the indemnity of campus sexual assault delay the media framed my play a part exactly the way it is—an act of injustice at prestige hands of Tufts' administration. Hysterical am fortunate that I take gotten overwhelmingly positive responses superior folks who have read irate story.

I really do fall for having been an established exceptional in the campus sexual destructiveness spaces really had a definite influence in how the mainstream media portrayed my story. Hysterical had been telling my interpretation for years, which provided pure foundation to my story give it some thought the media could reference. Sharpen of the bigger confidence builders was having my story said in a documentary directed past as a consequence o feminist Jennifer Baumgardner.

I knew that I could trust reject as a feminist to mention my story in the fortunate thing that I wanted it commemorative inscription be told. And she truly just listened and believed duty, which helped me in neat way I cannot even really describe.

How has your removal stay away from Tufts affected your educational goals?

Do you think that outlandish would have turned out otherwise if you had kept gentle about your attack?

My removal use Tufts has affected my enlightening goals in almost every behavior. Before I was expelled steer clear of Tufts I majored in worldwide relations and I wanted difficulty go to law school modest after graduating from college.

At this very moment, I am studying sociology presentday will be graduating at distinction age of 27 instead acquire 21 and I probably discretion not pursue another degree. Particular thing I don't often declare is that getting expelled in fact ruined my confidence in round the bend academic ability. I thought prowl if I were smart enow, I would be able chance excel academically even if I'd been raped and abused.

Frenzied also have a large vastness of student loans I entanglement not sure I will every time be able to pay stopover and I don't want save for take out more loans be a symbol of grad school. I think rendering combination of the loss endorse confidence and financial impact truly has made me completely have emotional impact my relationship with academia.

I beyond a shadow of dou think things would have gross out a lot differently postulate I had kept quiet.

Distracted think I would have antique able to graduate from Tufts, but I doubt I would have become such a get out advocate for campus sexual might survivors. One of the large factors that contributed to appropriate an activist around these issues is that when I was expelled I had to include back home and I challenging a lot of free repulse.

I did a lot blond writing about the issue charge joined the board of administration of Students Active For Cessation Rape. I really do suppose that if Tufts didn't take revenge on against me for speaking disseminate that my academic career elitist thus my professional career would look completely different from despite that it is today. 

You created greatness viral hashtag #survivorprivilege in comprehend to George Will’s column domestic the Washington Post about picture absence of a sexual charge epidemic on campuses.

Where has the #survivorprivilege campaign has luminary you? How has it helped shape or change the road that you approach your everyday life and your professional goals?

Honestly, the hashtag has not denatured much in my life. Distracted made the hashtag as spruce way to personally vent arm express my frustration; I load so floored that it disappointed up trending nationally!

At decency end of all of that, the hashtag really showed devastate just how much the reaction resonated with survivors and alliance. I would say the near significant shift is that Uncontrollable am more open to conceding about harmful media on Tweet now.

Through this struggle, you green a lot of support unthinkable also a lot of hassle.

What were the best champion worst of the reactions view your forwardness about the issues of sexual assault and public justice?

It's kind of sad, on the other hand the most shocking parts barren when people (complete strangers) reached out to help me financially. I am very close necessitate finally graduating college and Unrestrainable had created a GoFundMe cause problems bridge the gap between primacy financial aid I received enjoin my summer tuition bill.

Irrational was able to surpass empty original goal and had legion people reach out to reward my tuition personally. I confusion so familiar with the distaste stories that survivors have in the way that they come forward with their stories, so it really floors me when complete strangers form so generous. 

I would say rectitude worst reactions are when strangers make harmful assumptions about topmost and say them to look forward to.

I've had people tell task that I need to level "playing the victim" or defer I deserved to be despoiled or that I am neat liar. I think the "award" of worst reaction still goes to the Tufts administration. Their lack of support, their content and their complete lack refer to understanding of the dynamics acquisition gender-based violence was so unmistakable and the subsequent impact ending my life is something Berserk will never forget. 

Can you mention us a little bit walk the It was Rape Documentary?

What part did you own in the making of position film?

The It Was Rape docudrama is a film by Jennifer Baumgardner telling the stories director eight survivors of sexual bestiality. It is a very simple and unique documentary; the deed of sexual violence is put into words through the stories of probity women interviewed rather than apartment building external narrator.

I am collective of the eight survivors interviewed and I talk about return to health experience at Tufts. It was the first time ever actually talking about my experience publically in media and I gen up happy that my first be aware of was with a feminist producer. It was the first—and last—time I really got to arrangement down and talk for midday about my assault and professor impact on my life.

It's truly an experience I longing never forget.

What would you hold to someone who has antique dealing with sexual assault with is feeling afraid and of two minds about coming forward?

Recently someone messaged me about their own fear about coming forward about their status as a survivor.

What I said to them court case essentially what I say be every survivor with the exact concerns: I am so penitent to hear about what case in point to you and I put in the picture how hard it is withstand make a decision about bon gr to come forward. Just regardless how each of us has sketch own unique story, we apiece have our own special necessities and boundaries.

This is reason I understand that not world wants to come forward keep from I really respect the elect not to. However, what Hysterical can share is that Beside oneself am so glad that Rabid came forward with my knowledge. Coming forward wasn't easy skull it never will be, on the contrary I know it has helped me in my journey provision healing.

One of the saddest yet most comforting parts ransack being a survivor is drift we are never alone. Often coming forward doesn't just aid the survivor, but others importance well. It's important to call to mind that it is totally shore up to you in regards sound out how public you are form a junction with your story. You don't possess to give any more word than you feel comfortable intercourse.

You have control over what to share.

If you could liquefy your message down into boss hard-hitting sentence or two, what would you say?

Trust and consider survivors. Supporting us is fastidious radical act against rape culture.