This week has been more than unsettling for CBC Radio’s Q
fans far and wide, as former host of the popular arts, culture and
entertainment show is alleged to have assaulted and sexually harassed multiple
women.
While Q listeners might be upset and puzzled by the
avalanche of emerging information, those most unsettled, I would guess, are the
ones courageously speaking about what happened to them.
I am guilty. I am guilty of, when hearing Ghomeshi’s news,
immediately assuming whatever happened was exaggerated and this elegantly spoken
host would soon be cleared of any and all allegations.
And here I, 34-year-old woman, sit now thinking I wish I
hadn’t immediately assumed anything.
Let’s forget for a moment that I am a person who identifies
as female. Let’s call me X. If one day I told one, two or 30 million friends I
had been assaulted and harassed, I couldn’t think of something more insulting and
degrading than that friend or those friends saying, “X, are you sure that
happened? That guy’s pretty cool. Maybe you had too much to drink that night or
maybe you’re upset about something else. Don’t do anything rash.”
It takes a hell of a lot of courage to tell the stories that
have been appearing on social and mainstream media. It’s certainly not
something most people would decide to do for fun.
Women, men, Xs, if you’re saying something happened to you,
I’ll think strongly before assuming the other story is the truth.
