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Whenever you hear the words "sexual assault," many people instinctively assume that the victim is female. But as you can see from this powerful photography series, it isn't always so black and white.

The pictures are part of 'Project Unbreakable,' a website set up in 2011 by Grace Brown, a New York photography student. The purpose of the site is to raise awareness about sexual assault by giving a voice to those who have been victims of it. The pictures feature survivors holding up posters with quotes from their attackers, and many of those who volunteered to be a part of the project were men who had been subjected to sexual assault, child abuse, and domestic violence.

The website was closed in 2015, but as Grace wrote recently, "In light of our current political climate - the fact that a man accused of multiple instances of sexual assault is about to be the president of the USA - I have decided to repost images from Unbreakable on its Instagram account. We won’t stay silent - not for the oppressed, not for the marginalized, not for anyone."

More info: Project Unbreakable | Instagram

#1

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Petra Christovová
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All such creeps should die alone, unforgiven and broken, "people" like the uncle are disgusting pieces of s*it and do not deserve anything better.

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#24

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Nina Sanz
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It does make sense. I believe you. Forgive your parents, forgive yourself and let it go.

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Irene Blumkin
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Your parents couldn't deal with it. It comes from weakness, you come from strength.

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Gina Monn
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My son told me the same sort of thing when he was 6. There was never any tangible proof, but I believed him. I'm sorry this happened to both of you. It shouldn't happen to any living being, but you will be a survivor. That makes you a hero.😎

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Gina Monn
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also, I'm sure your parents are just unable to comprehend what you're feelings past their own guilt. They aren't as brave as you are in verbally expressing their feelings. It's very selfish of them, but everyone is subject to being human.

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Big_Mac_K86
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Something happened to me when I was small, and no one believed me either. It took a lot of time for me to understand, and one loving life-mate to make me feel sane.

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criminalgirl
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You don't need to forgive yourself, you did nothing wrong. Your parents will feel the guilt, and don't know how to cope with this as much as you don't. Get help, I'm so sorry.

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River Zayne
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

my parents said the same thing, they still dont believe me because i took so long to tell someone.

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Aaron Miller
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is me right now. My mom said the exact same thing to me. I don't know what to do about it, don't know where to go.

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Steve Patterson
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OMG. My mother said the same thing to me. But I was out of her sight.

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Jen Barrett
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Whether or not you forgive your parents is entirely up to you. I hope you find the sort of peace and intimacy that everyone wants.

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Cookie
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Parents who say that are not being helpful. Learn better ways to parent.

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Vanina Oliveira
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Its because some peoples minds block things out as self protection.but it did happen or it wouldnt affect you 😢

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DancingToMyself
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If they don't believe you, they are probably ashamed and embarrassed about all that situation. And feeling guilty for not being able to protect you. Or/and it's too painful for them to see what happend.

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Kimberly Puchniarz
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually your parents just don't want to accept their part in this. Please find someone (therapist) to help you work through this betrayal..

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Annette Hutcheson
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So very sorry they don't believe you. 💔 You can survive this and be a great man. ❤❤❤❤❤May you find peace

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#26

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Kimberly Puchniarz
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They "thought" you wouldn't remember one of the most devastating things to have happened in your whole life? Really? Wtf!?

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#28

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E Menendez
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Though rare women can be rapists. I have heard that men can't be raped by women because they need to be hard. It would be like saying a woman isn't raped if she is wet. Both are a physiological response. Everyone has the right to say "NO" no matter what their physiological response.

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#31

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Ana Ryguła
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Jesus. What a monster she is. How can anyone do anything like this to anyone? Not to mention she was historia mother :(

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#32

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Hannah Bunker
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't think I can read many more of these, I want to cry for all these poor people who were abused like this. Next chance I get I am raising awareness for this cause. I feel like people should know that they can go to a lot of people for this and they will be protected. This is disgusting.

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#33

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Smoofy
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hate how people expect men and boys to like it. I f*****g hate it.

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#40

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Kimberly Puchniarz
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These sick af individuals will say or do anything so as to manipulate their victims. Disgusting in every way possible!

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#42

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Anne Moe
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's possible that he feels that he was forced into being gay; What is probably really happening is that he hasn't processed his trauma and is actually continuously reenacting it. In our culture we regard gay as a sexual orientation that is not chosen, and for us it is like that. For him it is not, and it is his reality. Opening up about trauma is the first step to healing. Your insensitive comments here might halt that process. It's his trauma, his life, his situation. Let him have ownership to it. He might be born gay, he might not be born gay; that doesn't change the fact that he lives in a culture were being gay is a punishable offence that might cost him his life, and get him raped even more. So just let him have ownership of his trauma and figure things out for himself. Show some goddamn love, or shut your pie-holes.

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#43

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Kimberly Puchniarz
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So sorry to hear how much pain you were forced to deal with. Physically and emotionally.

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#47

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Kimberly Puchniarz
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He's the little sicko b***h!! May he burn in hell with all the other predators!!

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#54

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Angelika Okotokro
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's what many of them say: "you caused it yourself!" Sick bastards!!! So sorry 😢😢

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#55

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Shauday Smith
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i think i'm lacking some context for this quote... is this what the attacker said before they assaulted him? like it was some sort of twisted "training" or skill building? :(

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#62

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Kimberly Puchniarz
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah right, it was your words you sick predator, not your physically raping me!!! Sickest predator.

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