Margaret Cho, in addition to being hilarious, has always been an outspoken feminist. Now, she is using the lead-up to her new video not only to speak about about her own rage regarding sexual assault she’s experienced, but she’s encouraging others to do the same during her 12 Days of Rage.
The first of her 12 Days of Rage was yesterday, and she will be posting up a new video every day for twelve days, each recounting an experience she’s had with sexual assault, all leading up to the release of her new video, “I Wanna Kill My Rapist,” out on November 13th.
It all started on Thursday, when she engaged in a passionate conversation about sex work, and legalizing it so that sex workers can have the same protections that other work environments have:
I support sex workers because I was one and I know that it’s a job that’s needlessly shunned by society when frankly we should be worshipped
— Margaret Cho (@margaretcho) October 29, 2015
Sex work is simply work. For me it was honest work. I was a sex worker when I was young. It was hard but well paid. There’s no shame in it. — Margaret Cho (@margaretcho) October 29, 2015
Sex work is not degrading – it didn’t degrade me. Rape was degrading. Not sex work. Sex work is honest work. https://t.co/JzaRe9nql8
— Margaret Cho (@margaretcho) November 1, 2015
Sex workers have vastly different experiences. I’m only speaking from my truth+don’t mean to ‘define’ it for anyone. I just want to share me — Margaret Cho (@margaretcho) November 1, 2015
Now, she’s broadened the conversation from the assault experienced by sex workers to that experienced by women in general, and rather than simply sharing her own experiences, she has encouraged others not only to share their stories of assault but, as she says in the video above, specifically to do so if they have anger:
Send me your videos – tell me your story. #12daysofrage I was a victim of rape for far too long. Now I’m a SURVIVOR! Tell me how you lived.
— Margaret Cho (@margaretcho) November 1, 2015
Many people responded, and Cho commiserated with them:
You’re not alone. We are all here with you. #12daysofrage https://t.co/0WtiDWAmsM — Margaret Cho (@margaretcho) November 1, 2015
Thank you for sharing this with me. XOXOXOXO #12daysofrage https://t.co/4dYcq9jJGj
— Margaret Cho (@margaretcho) November 1, 2015
I’m so sorry. But you are a SURVIVOR. I love your courage. And I love you. #12daysofrage https://t.co/UDllZ8YoJz — Margaret Cho (@margaretcho) November 1, 2015
In addition to providing a much-needed outlet, I love that Cho’s approach to this validates feelings of anger and strength in survivors, rather than only the sadness and hurt. It’s about encouraging those who feel up to it to take charge of their own narratives. It reminds me of a spoken word piece by one of my favorite poets, Sierra DeMulder – a poem called “Paper Dolls:”
“Our response is the unfailing safety net. We never expect to see her across the wire.” Hopefully, Cho and the rest of us will continue to encourage survivors to tell their stories, heal, and get stronger; will remind survivors that there’s nothing wrong with them if they don’t feel sad or scared, but angry instead. And remember: “The person who did this to you is broken, not you.”
(via Daily Life; Image via Jim Davidson on Flickr)
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