



On Friday afternoon, a recording was unearthed of Donald Trump making lewd comments about women and boasting about sexual assault. While Trump saying awful things about women is nothing new, these latest comments are some of his most disgusting yet. Trumps blasé attitudes towards consent in these recordings are essentially the very definition of rape culture, and women online are seeing their own stories of assault in his callous words.

Writer and comedian Kelly Oxford took to Twitter on Friday night to give these women a forum to share their own stories in order to show that while Trump’s words may seem innocuous or just “boys being boys” to many, they actually belie a deeper cultural issue.

Women: tweet me your first assaults. they aren't just stats. I'll go first: Old man on city bus grabs my "pussy" and smiles at me, I'm 12. — kelly oxford (@kellyoxford) October 7, 2016



The sheer number of responses, while tragic, is hardly surprising. Despite the inevitability, this twitter thread is remarkably difficult to read.

@kellyoxford @CherylStrayed soccer coach discretely groped my boobs while demonstrating how not to block someone in gym class. I was 13. — Kate Spencer (@katespencer) October 8, 2016

@kellyoxford first: Breasts grabbed at Halloween party when I was 14. Ass grabbed when I was wedding dress shopping at 27. — Laura Hazard Owen (@laurahazardowen) October 8, 2016

@kellyoxford older brother's friend forcibly made out with me. he was a senior in high school, i was 12 — ariel lebeau (@ariellebeau) October 8, 2016

@kellyoxford I won't give details, but I was 12, and he went to jail. — Emily Willingham (@ejwillingham) October 8, 2016

@kellyoxford 14, work experience at hospital. Alone in lab, Dr kept 'helping' me by pressing himself against me, running hands down my waist — Jennine Khalik (@jennineak) October 8, 2016

@kellyoxford old man Disneyland cups my butt and fingers hit vag while I'm in line for ice cream at Disneyland when I was 14 — Ginger Gonzaga (@gingerthejester) October 8, 2016

@kellyoxford Old guy who owned an ice-cream shop touched my breast. I was 15. Never went back. Never told my parents. He served kids. — Laurie Brookins (@StyleWriterNYC) October 8, 2016

@kellyoxford Saddest thing: it took me a bit to consider what was my “first” assault. Had to list them out. — Kaitlin Kelly (@caitidh) October 7, 2016

@kellyoxford I was 10, he was my babysitter. Told me he was training me for boys when I got older. — Laurenn McCubbin (@laurennmcc) October 8, 2016

@kellyoxford so many I can't remember the first one. And didn't know it was assault until very recently. "Boys will be boys" I was told. — Angie Orth (@AngieAway) October 8, 2016

@kellyoxford guy in a bar tries to finger me while we are dancing. I push him away and he says I'm lucky he's nice or he'd hit me. — Jaya Saxena (@jayasax) October 8, 2016

@kellyoxford Man rubbed against my ass on the train then blew me a kiss. I was in fifth grade on a school trip. — Julia Ghoulia (@SayWhatSugar) October 7, 2016

@kellyoxford I was #grabbedbythepussy by guy on a bike while walking down the street when I was 12. Was scared to wear skirts for awhile. — Sarah Sophie Flicker (@sarahsophief) October 7, 2016

@kellyoxford 17- waitress. Asked to 'settle a gentlemen's bet' re my underwear. Refused to answer; they grabbed my ass to see themselves — Ariel Ufret (@arielufret) October 8, 2016

@kellyoxford 17 year old family friend locks me in his room, tells me he’s going to “teach me to blow him.” I jump out his window. I’m 11. — Melissa Jenna Godsey (@melissajenna) October 8, 2016

The saddest part is that these tweets are the very tip of the iceberg, as thousands of women responded with their own stories of sexual assault. When Donald Trump jovially speaks of groping women against their will, nearly every woman has flashbacks to her own similar situations. This is not just “locker room talk.” This is an unfortunate reality that women have to deal with, and it has to end.

(Via Kelly Oxford’s Twitter)