It's a Very Scary Time

“I say that it’s a very scary time for young men in America when you can be guilty of something that you may not be guilty of”

– Donald Trump

I want to start this off saying that I do not identify with one political party. My independent views are shaped by my family, friends, and environment which are a complicated combination of many political factors. When I watched the clip of Donald Trump utter these words I could honestly not comprehend how I was hearing this. I was so in shock that I listened to taped recordings from Fox News, CNN, ABC News, and MSNBC immediately after to make sure I was really hearing something that my president said.

I have heard you, Donald Trump, and I want you to hear me too. This is the voice of a 19-year-old woman from central Pennsylvania trying to understand the world I’m living in.

Do you understand how much fear I have when I’m walking alone at night?

Do you understand how often I check to make sure I’m carrying pepper spray in my bag?

Do you understand how many times I question whether it’s safe to go on a run alone?

Do you know how many times I’ve worried about being assaulted while on campus?

Do you understand how afraid I am when the path I’m taking is not well-lit?

Do you know how scared I get when I get at least one notification every week that someone was sexually assaulted in my dorm?

Do you know how many times I’ve had to fake a phone call when I’m walking alone at night to make it seem like I’d be a harder target?

Do you know how afraid I am when I hear about women reporting sexual assault on a daily basis?

Do you know how scared I was when I heard about another young college female found dead after going on a run?

Do you realize that I have these thoughts on a daily basis?

Do you know what it’s like as a young woman in America?

I’ll give you a hint- it’s a very scary time.