Tabitha Oyewole

My mom enlightened me about rapists at a very young age. She told me to never be alone with a man in a secluded place, taught me how to scream for help when I’m being harassed, and told me not to trust men, including my dad, uncles, and brothers. She made sure I didn’t run errands at night; instead, she sent my brothers. She was never raped but she knows the crazy society we live in so she prepared me for it at a very young age. I was taught to be extra careful to make sure I didn’t get myself raped.

Many mothers are like my mom; they take precautions and teach their daughters how to be careful but why does it always have to be us who take the preventive measures? Why do I have to be the one who covers up to avoid predators? Why do I have to be the one who stays home at night to avoid getting raped? Why us?

I dream of a society where I don’t get sexualized because of what I wear or where I go.

I dream of a society where I can be free to walk at night without getting scared.

I dream of a society where I can put on what I want to put on without being seen as prey

I dream of a society where I can be alone with a guy without getting scared.

I dream of a better society—a society where the female child is safe.

#SayNoToRape