GtG-58 | P's Story | Chile 2018

Can you tell us the main point of your story?

The main point of my story is the changes that occur within a person... Our parents raise us in a certain way, but we have the power to change and be different. In Chile, we have situations of domestic violence and situations where women are killed.  Kids grow up watching and learning about that. Like in my case. We can be more passive or active about that.

Why did you choose to tell this story?

I decided it was important to heal myself for mental health, also to be good and to recognize that we can stop participating in violent conflict.  It’s a vicious circle.

Has participating in this workshop impacted you?

I am not a feminist, but I have learned a lot... I respect all kinds of perspectives... I liked that I could open up to other people and listen to other people’s stories, too.  I am a listener, I don’t talk that much about myself, I am shy, but I felt that I could do that here, talk about myself.

GtG-57 | S's Story | Chile 2018

Why did you choose to tell this story?

Once I got the email, I knew right away what I wanted to talk about, feeling unprotected,  a feeling that I had when I was little and still have today. Regardless of feeling unprotected, it’s important that you know you can find support, because you have to believe in yourself and to keep on going.   

Do you feel you have contributed or given something to other women?

Yes, the most important thing is that what happens to you, happens to others, to feel that you are not alone. Listening to other women’s stories helped me talk about my story, and it gave me strength to keep going and to help women who have been silenced by men and the system and to help stop these situations in the future.

Has participating in this workshop impacted you?

The most important thing was listening to the other stories and bonding with the other girls.  I was shocked to listen to their stories. I knew them only as classmates, and their stories and conflicts gave me compassion for them, myself, and all of us.

GtG-56 | A's Story | Chile 2018

Can you tell us the main point of your story?

I wanted to focus on self-forgiveness, for blaming ourselves for justifying and normalizing violence.

Do you feel you have contributed or given something to other women?

I think the possibility to name the situation (of violence) and recognizing that we shouldn’t blame ourselves. Maybe, we make mistakes, but it doesn’t define us as persons. We don’t have to be punished because of our mistakes.  I wanted to recognize that I don’t have to stop loving myself because of that.

Has participating in this workshop impacted you?

It was hard to put this story into words. But, by listening to my friends stories and by trying to make my own story, I could name the different things that happened to me,  things that bothered me, that I know were wrong. For example, my ex-partner made a mistake, but I never associated that with [me] being harassed or being abused... I only knew that it was wrong. So, looking at the situation that way helps me to feel relief and not blame myself like I used to.

GtG-55 | B's Story | Chile 2018

Can you tell us the main point of your story?

I decided to tell my story after listening to another digital story. This gave me trust to speak out. Until that day, I realized that I had not experienced a significant act of violence against me. So, I decided to talk about the violence that many of us do to ourselves because of our situations. I spoke about fear, how I closed myself with bad and mean thoughts, and how my heart broke because of those thoughts.

Why did you choose to tell this story?

I spent a lot of time not telling anyone what happened to me. Thanks to Girl-talk-Girl, I knew that I could have a support network.  

Do you feel you have contributed or given something to other women?

I hope I did. That day, I forgot to talk about shame, one of the fears when you show that you are vulnerable. If I didn’t face that shame, I wouldn’t have been able to overcome it and go through it.  

Can you share a message to other young women?

First, I’d like to thank Girl-talk-Girl for this opportunity. And to say to other women they shouldn’t be afraid to speak up about difficult things and go through barriers, because in the beginning, it will be hard and difficult, but in the end, healing.

GtG-54 | R's Story | Chile 2018

Can you tell us the main point of your story?

Family and domestic violence and how it relates to relationships with partners.

Why did you choose to tell this story?

Because I am living it. I realized through the workshop, telling my story, other people identified with it. It helped me think that my story was more important than I had thought.

Is there a take away for other women?

Yes, by sending the message that you can end certain patterns, and to stop seeing yourself as the victim. Then, you will be able to see yourself as the main character of your story.

Do you think you have given something to other women?

It’s not easy to tell a story so personal. But maybe down the line, when you show my story, it will help.

Has participating in this workshop impacted you?

It helped to put into words what I could not express before.

GtG-53 | D's Story | Chile 2018

Can you tell us the main point of your story?

More than anything, not to stay silent about things that happen to you. When I was a little girl, a man touched me without my consent. I was nine. At the time, I didn’t think about it as something bad. But the same guy touched two other girls, and they spoke up  about it. My grandmother grabbed me and told me, “You don’t have to let anybody touch you.” Then something clicked and I understood what happened to me was wrong. I never wanted to say anything until now.  So, I feel staying silent didn’t help me.  

Why did you choose to tell this story?

Lately, I have had this story present on my mind. I have been working with girls  between 11 and 14, and one of them has been abused. I haven’t told them about my story, but I have tried to talk about it with them, so that it doesn’t happen to them. One of the girls told her parents about the abuse, but the Chilean justice did nothing.  Because there was no penetration from the guy, nothing happened. There was no proof. Her word was not enough. 

GtG-52 | F's Story | Chile 2018

Why did you choose to tell this story?

This is a story I made based on different stories from people who are close to me and who have been through something like this. I was shocked by their stories, and I think is necessary to share these stories.

Do you feel you have contributed or given something to other women?

Historically, women have been very resilient, and it is necessary to be brave in those situations and not allow anybody to make you feel that you don’t have an opinion or that your opinion doesn’t count. At first, I thought I didn’t have much to contribute, but then I realized we all have something to contribute, and that made me feel good.

Has participating in this workshop impacted you?

The workshop has made a positive impact. It made me think about certain things I never thought about before and helped me see things from another perspective.

Can you share a message to other young women?

I want to tell women, regardless of our characteristics, it is very important we value ourselves, help each other, and not allow anyone to not value us.

GtG-51 | E's Story | Chile 2018

Can you tell us the main point of your story?

It is to visualize gender-based violence and how it affects all of us women no matter our social classes, ages, wherever we are. And we are socialized to be afraid. Once, I saw an image that said, “Only a woman knows the relief that she feels to see that the person walking behind her is another woman.” I wanted to visualize this. Because, it is not okay in any sense, and it shouldn’t be socialized and accepted as normal. Women shouldn’t be afraid of walking in the street.

Has participating in this workshop impacted you?

Yes, listening to my classmates’ stories impacted me.  When you start sharing stories, you start to remember many things that have happened, which is shocking, because you open old wounds.  You realize you are not alone when you hear other people’s stories. I think in the workshop we treated these subjects with caution and sensitivity, like a “safe space,” so that helped me to feel comfortable and confident to talk.  I think all my classmates felt that way, because they all opened up about very sensitive topics.

Can you share a message to other young women?

No matter what happened to you, it is never, never, never your fault.
 

GtG-50 | C's Story | Chile 2018

Can you tell us the main point of your story?

Obstetric violence… I realized that I really didn’t know my body until this situation. I felt that wasn’t right, and it was violence in a sense. I knew that many women have abortions and that a miscarriage is something that can happen. What was shocking was that I was in a room by myself without my husband, regardless that it was a matter that involved us both. I was with eight other women, and while the doctors were doing the procedure to each of us, they were talking about other things and laughing.

Why did you choose to tell this story?

This has made me think about going through this process of pregnancy and how I want to teach my daughters to think about their own bodies.

Do you feel you have contributed or given something to other women?

Yes, because after what happened to me, only another woman’s story made me stop crying. A friend called me and told me it had happened to her, and suddenly, I didn’t feel that I was alone.  

How did the workshop impact you?

This program had an impact on me. I posted on Facebook that I was at the workshop and said that if the post got enough likes I’d share the information. My post got many likes and comments. The idea behind the program is cool, and I support it and understand how important it is for women.

Has participating in this workshop impacted you?

In the university, I never had the opportunity to speak of violence against women with other classmates who were women until this workshop. The other stories I have heard have helped me think about feminism and equality.