Sexual harassment and sexual violence have been present for long as humans have had societies, though the issues have not always been discussed publicly. Many people point to the allegations made by Anita Hill against then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas in 1991 as the beginning of the public battle against sexual harassment. In recent months, the war has been reignited with great fervor as countless high-profile individuals have been accused of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and other forms of sexual misbehavior.

Perhaps the most common response to each new allegation that comes out is a question: why did the victim wait so long to come forward? If the abuser’s actions were brought to light sooner, they could have been dealt with sooner. Coming forward with allegations of harassment, however, is often the most difficult thing a victim will ever have to do—especially for women who have been the victims of male abusers.

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