First, I’d like to thank everyone who read my last post about assault, left a comment, or sent me a note. I appreciate every act of kindness, compassion, and support.

It was scary to push “publish” in a way it never has been before, but once I did I felt a rush of relief. The second I let go of that post, I knew I did the right thing, no matter the response. Sometimes you don’t realize the weight you’re carrying until you release it.

I’ve read many stories about women being triggered by America’s presidential election. Some were on personal blogs, others in major news outlets. A few were written by my friends. Several people reached out to me and said, me too.

Reading about friends’ and strangers’ accounts of assault was both comforting and horrifying. But I believe there is power in our stories being out in the world. In sharing them. In breaking the silence.

It’s my deepest hope that if one good thing comes out of this election (and by that I mean, in addition to having a woman president) it is that the conversation about sexual assault, discrimination, and misogyny is at the forefront of the national (and international) conversation.

Thanks to Donald Trump, the term, “locker room talk,” will never be the same. Let’s hope we can also retire the adage, “boys will be boys.” Both expressions give a pass on reprehensible behavior. The kind I don’t want my son to be a part of, nor his sister to be a recipient of.

I decided that I wanted to compile all the articles I’ve been reading about sexual assault and the triggering of this election season. You’ll notice, the posts are not only from Americans, but from women abroad. This election is global in importance. If you don’t believe me, check out J.K. Rowling’s Twitter account.

What is the point of creating a list like this? My first hope is that it may help women feel less alone and isolated in their experience with assault, and also acknowledge that so many of us (men included) have been feeling a lingering disgust and unease by the news emerging about Trump’s past.

Bonus points if this list sways anyone on the fence during this perilous election season.

Finally, if you know of an article or post about this topic that I missed, please leave a comment and I’ll continue to update it.

Blog Posts

Pulling the Trigger

Locker Room Talk

There are Weeks When Just About the Whole Internet Needs a Trigger Warning

Society is the Abusive Boyfriend From Whom I Can’t Escape

Scary Mommy Confessions: I Know How It Feels To Be Grabbed By The P*ssy

Cultivating Compassion for Gaslighting Survivors

Websites, Magazines, Newspapers

On a more positive note…Latest on Salon: Trump’s Locker Room Talk Has Given Women a Platform to Talk About Sexual Assault

Latest on The Establishment: When Trump Supporters Mock Sexual Assault Triggering

Lit Hub: Locker Room Banger is Just Another Name for Patriarchy

Huffington Post: Donald Trump’s Campaign Triggered Memories of Sexual Assault for NPR Star Diane Rehm

Huffington Post: Donald Trump and His Supporters are Actually Making Women Sick

The Establishment: America Is Literally in an Abusive Relationship with Donald Trump 

Slate: Donald Trump is a Human Trigger 

The Root: For Sexual Assault Victims Donald Trump is Triggering 

NY Times: For Many Women Trump’s ‘Locker Room Talk’ Brings Memories of Abuse 

Fusion: For These Sexual Assault Survivors the Rise of Donald Trump Has Been One Long Trigger