November marks Woman Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month: a month near and dear to the London Abused Woman’s Center. This November will be LAWC’s 9th Annual Shine the Light on Woman Abuse campaign, held to coincide with the months theme. Each year, stories of both an abuse survivor and a life taken by abuse is featured.
This years survivor is Shainee Chalk: a woman who has been through, and continues to go through, revenge porn. At the events media launch, Chalk explained how when she was young she willingly sent out nude photo’s of herself. An abuser, who is not known, then took her photo’s and began posting them on revenge porn sites, along with at least 40 other girls from her home town.
Seven years later, Chalk’s photos continue to be spread across countless websites. These photo’s still haunt her life, but she has sense understood that she is not to blame for the events that occurred. She is a victim and a survivor.
Chalk in the middle, with her father and sister standing behind her in solidarity
This incredible woman told her story to a room full of cameras and guests- none of which were left without feeling her pain. She serves this event as a symbol that bad events don’t have to end a life. Her father and sister, as well as the London community stood behind her today, showing support and raising awareness.
She finished her story with tears streaming down her face, and a standing ovation from everyone in the room.
