Letters from Survivors

Our new edition is now up on our new website - https://lettersfromsurvivors.uk/. Thank you so much to all our contributors, editors and readers for making this possible.

Letters from Survivors opinion Posted onNovember 22, 2021 Dear readers and writers Dear readers, You are so much more than someone glancing at a page or screen. You are witnesses. You are allies. You are the reason […] Read More

Letters from Survivors updated their website address.

A reminder that we are still open to submissions for our next issue! Submissions don't have to fit our theme, though we especially welcome the work of BAME writers.

In our next issue, we plan to focus on the challenges which BAME people face regarding s*xual violence, as well as the contributions of Black women especially to anti-s*xual violence movements like .

From an increased likelihood of experiencing s*xual violence, to problems faced in reporting, people of colour face massive challenges that white survivors do not. We would love to publish opinion pieces and essays that delve into these issues and how they affect students at UK Universities especially.

'Letters' and other articles from all contributors are still very welcome. To submit your writing to our next issue, or for general inquiries, email us at [email protected]. Anything sent to us will be treated as anonymous unless you tell us you would like to be named on publication.

We also have a page where you can learn how to get more involved with our project and pick up commissions - this group is private, so please send us an email or a message if you'd like to find out more.

Thank you so much for the fantastic response to our first issue. Looking forward to the next!

“Changing our mode of thinking about s*x isn’t easy. To get there, we have to make proper communication part of our s*x lives.”

An anonymous personal essay on consent and communication.

https://www.lettersfromsurvivors.uk/home/consent-is-not-a-locked-door

Consent is not a locked door — Letters from Survivors Changing our mode of thinking about s*x isn’t easy. To get there, we have to make proper communication part of our s*x lives.

"To every person that told me to get out and gave me the support I needed to do so – thank you."

An anonymous personal essay on leaving an abusive relationship.

https://www.lettersfromsurvivors.uk/home/how-i-left

How I left — Letters from Survivors To every person that told me to get out and gave me the support I needed to do so – thank you.

“You are not weak; you were not blind. This could have happened to anyone.”

An anonymous personal essay on recovery from s*xual assault.

https://www.lettersfromsurvivors.uk/home/life-after-the-fact

Life after the fact — Letters from Survivors This was not your fault. You are not weak; you were not blind. This could have happened to anyone.

"To reduce the violence women experience in otherwise consensual s*x, we have to be willing to discuss what it is from s*x that we want."

An essay on the harmful effects of po*******hy upon the idea of consent by Lauren Shirreff.

https://www.lettersfromsurvivors.uk/home/generation-porn

Facing the consequences of Generation P**n — Letters from Survivors Lauren Shirreff P**nography capitalises on the realities of s*xual violence, sanitises them, and repackages them as erotic.

"If I have altered the views of one perpetrator even slightly, or provided the slightest comfort to another survivor, it will have been worth it."

A woman advocating for women in sport, while coming to terms with her own experiences of s*xual violence.

https://www.lettersfromsurvivors.uk/home/changing-a-culture

Changing a culture — Letters from Survivors A woman advocating for women in sport, while coming to terms with her own experiences of s*xual violence.

“Evil is a relay sport, when the one you burn turns to pass the torch.”

A review of Fiona Apple‘s album, Fetch The Bolt Cutters, by Abigail Howe.

https://www.lettersfromsurvivors.uk/home/fetch-the-bolt-cutters

Fetch the Bolt Cutters: Fiona Apple cuts herself free — Letters from Survivors Abigail Howe “Evil is a relay sport, when the one you burn turns to pass the torch.”

“Every joke, every supposedly humorous comment, indirectly contributes to a system which protects abusers and silences survivors.”

An anonymous personal essay considering the impact of “jokes” about s*xual assault.

https://www.lettersfromsurvivors.uk/home/its-never-just-a-joke

It's never just a joke — Letters from Survivors Every joke, every supposedly humorous comment, indirectly contributes to a system which protects abusers and silences survivors.

“Violence and consent - A Scale”: An anonymous personal essay exploring the connection between s*xual violence and consent.

https://www.lettersfromsurvivors.uk/home/violence-and-consent-a-scale

Violence and consent - a scale — Letters from Survivors These are the questions I would have liked to explore in learning about consent. And they are questions which will change the way we think about s*xual violence.

“Our pleasure is political” - a personal essay exploring the importance of pleasure by Alexandra Kimmons.

https://www.lettersfromsurvivors.uk/home/our-pleasure-is-political

Our pleasure is political — Letters from Survivors Alexandra Kimmons Don’t forget to honour your body’s ‘yes’.

“For now, I don’t look men in their eyes” - a set of submissions and a short letter by an anonymous artist.

https://www.lettersfromsurvivors.uk/home/for-now-i-dont-look-men-in-their-eyes

For now, I don't look men in their eyes — Letters from Survivors Three submissions by an anonymous artist.

"I don’t think there’s any forgiveness that’s going to come from me. I don’t think there’s any road back."

An incredibly powerful anonymous letter about losing a friend who’s accused of s*xual assault.

https://www.lettersfromsurvivors.uk/home/closure

Closure — Letters from Survivors I don’t think there’s any forgiveness that’s going to come from me. I don’t think there’s any road back.

So excited to say we’re just one day away from the premier of Letters From Survivors! ❤️
If you have a piece you would like to write surrounding s*xual violence, our DMs are open, but otherwise, look out for our first pieces tomorrow ❤️

We’re just two days away from the launch of Letters From Survivors this Sunday! Our mission is to create a respectful platform for survivors of s*xual violence and their allies to share their stories - if you would like to share, our DMs are open ❤️

Spread the word! Please share and follow the journey of our new publication, Letters From Survivors ☺️ This creative project will be a beautiful way of respectfully platforming the issues of s*xual violence and harassment in UK universities.
~From opinion pieces to short stories to poetry to essays to photography, our DMs are open for allies and survivors alike to share their stories.~
🥳In the meantime: please get ready for the premiere! 🥳

🗣 Exciting news ... 🗣 The very first Letters from Survivors edition is coming very soon!
Thank you so much for all of your moving and beautiful submissions. Just a reminder of who we are💛:
We are Letters from Survivors, a digital magazine for those who have experienced s*xual violence and harassment in UK universities, as well as their allies. We aim to provide a platform on which these issues can be discussed candidly and respectfully. No experience is too big or too small to be discussed; if you have a story to tell, we will listen.
We can’t wait to share with you guys. 🙌

We are Letters from Survivors, a digital magazine for those who have experienced s*xual violence and harassment in UK universities, as well as their allies. We aim to provide a platform on which these issues can be discussed candidly and respectfully. No experience is too big or too small to be discussed; if you have a story to tell, we will listen.

Our website will be launching very soon. More information to follow.