April 18, 2013 • 2 notes
The Duct Tape ProjectSurvivor 

The Duct Tape Project
Survivor 

April 18, 2013 • 6 notes
The Duct Tape ProjectSurvivor“5 years later and I’m still healing, but it has not won.” 

The Duct Tape Project
Survivor
“5 years later and I’m still healing, but it has not won.” 

September 19, 2012 • 33 notes • theducttapeproject
jessicasings: theducttapeproject: The Duct Tape Project“Husband of Survivor, Survivor” “My husband, my strength, my support. The first time we were intimate, I panicked…(from previous experiences). I told him, “no, stop” and he stopped. I cried as he held me and I told him what was wrong. He told me that no one should ever be treated like that. The next morning we made love and it was the most beautiful experience. This year we’ve been married for 15 years. I love him! He is my everything.”  Beautiful <3 Happy 15th Anniversary to this wonderful and inspirational couple! May you enjoy many more!!

jessicasings:

theducttapeproject:

The Duct Tape Project
“Husband of Survivor, Survivor”

“My husband, my strength, my support. The first time we were intimate, I panicked…
(from previous experiences). I told him, “no, stop” and he stopped. I cried as he held me and I told him what was wrong. He told me that no one should ever be treated like that. The next morning we made love and it was the most beautiful experience. This year we’ve been married for 15 years. I love him! He is my everything.” 

Beautiful <3

Happy 15th Anniversary to this wonderful and inspirational couple! May you enjoy many more!!

September 18, 2012 • 5 notes
The Duct Tape Project&#8220;Healing from trauma often includes grieving.&#8221; 

The Duct Tape Project
“Healing from trauma often includes grieving.” 

September 16, 2012 • 1 note

Interested in submitting a photo?

Wanna be involved? You may submit photos via tumblr or The Duct Tape Project’s email address (theducttapeprojectemail@gmail.com).

I ask that you please follow the instructions given in the info page: http://theducttapeproject.tumblr.com/Info 

The gist is that I would prefer a close, headshot picture with decent lighting and a homogenous background. For example, a non-homogenous background would be lamps, your dog, trees, etc. A homogenous background can be a blank wall, brick, the bark of a tree, etc. And your duct tape should be in the position described in info according to your relationship with sexual assault that you choose to disclose. Survivors may add a quote as stated in the info page. 

I understand if you are unable to get a background like that as well. All photos will be accepted!

I would love to have anyone invovled that is interested! =)

Thanks!
-The Duct Tape Project 


September 4, 2012 • 5 notes
The Duct Tape ProjectSurvivor&#8220;It gets easier to deal with as time goes on, but you can&#8217;t do it alone.&#8221; 

The Duct Tape Project
Survivor

“It gets easier to deal with as time goes on, but you can’t do it alone.” 

August 15, 2012 • 2 notes
Q
Last semester, I was raped by two individuals on two separate occasions. With both, I consented to certain sexual acts, but then they did things to me that I didn't. I can't bring myself to forgive them, and I can't stop blaming myself. I can't report them either...I don't think anyone would even believe me. I don't know how to cope. I feel so utterly alone and I don't know what to do. I don't know how they can be so happy with their lives now while I want to die. What should I do?
Anonymous
A

I’m so sorry to hear that you have to go through this. You definitely shouldn’t blame yourself. Sexual assault is lack of consent, and if you did not consent to something, it is assault. Those two people chose to assault you. You didn’t choose it or cause it. 

It is completely up to you whether you want to press charges or not. The process of a trial and all that comes with it can be very difficult. However, the outcome can be very rewarding. There is no right or wrong. You do what’s best for yourself.
http://theducttapeproject.tumblr.com/post/21680579721/the-duct-tape-project-even-if-it-started

Some survivors find talking about it to be very healing. A great thing to do is to seek out a good therapist that you click with. Therapy can be very helpful and enlightening. The best first step is to open up to someone/people you trust. It can feel very vulnerable to tell people, but it can alleviate some of the loneliness and burden of carrying all of the weight all of the time.
(http://theducttapeproject.tumblr.com/post/22071269487/the-duct-tape-project-you-may-have-to-tell-more)

I hope this helped! Some other good websites to check out are:

RAINN.org

Understanding Series
http//mentalscubadiving.tumblr.com/tagged/understanding

Resoures for Survivors
 http://theducttapeproject.tumblr.com/post/22075194808/some-resources-for-survivors

August 14, 2012 • 93 notes
The Duct Tape Project &#8221;Some remain silent for fear of being blamed or disbelieved. It takes courage to tell. Believe them!&#8221;

The Duct Tape Project
 ”Some remain silent for fear of being blamed or disbelieved. It takes courage to tell. Believe them!”

August 4, 2012 • 11 notes
The Duct Tape Project&#8220;Survivor&#8221; &#8220;I was sexually assaulted by a friend. As soon as it happened, I spoke up about it. I didn&#8217;t want to be a victim. I wanted to be a survivor.&#8221; Thank you for your submission! &lt;3

The Duct Tape Project
“Survivor”

“I was sexually assaulted by a friend. As soon as it happened, I spoke up about it. I didn’t want to be a victim. I wanted to be a survivor.”

Thank you for your submission! <3

July 10, 2012 • 272 notes • projectunbreakable

jessicasings:

projectunbreakable:

The posters read:

“You’re cold? Why don’t you get us a blanket?… Oops! Come back here. It’s warm.” - My uncle when I was 8

~several more abusers until age 14~

“Come here. I want to tell you something.” - age 21

“I’ve been looking forward to this. You’re so hot… Wanna date for 10 minutes?…” (after I pushed him off me) “F***cking grinding like we’re in 8th grade!” - my rapist, age 21

“I’m sorry. I have to. I have to break your rule. I can’t help it. I have to. “ - assault after 1st date with a “nice guy”, age 23

I’m not fully healed yet, but I’ve become an activist and advocate for sexual assault awareness. I’ve skydived for Operaton Freefall for the past six years, given speeches & testimonials, and started The Duct Tape Project. This is what I love. Speaking out helps me to heal, and it can help you & others too. You don’t need to make a speech or tell 100 people. If you tell 1 person your story, you are incredibly strong and speaking out. 

Right now, I’m surviving, and someday I’ll be thriving. But surviving is enough for now.

—

Photographed in Springfield, MA on July 1st.

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Not sure what Project Unbreakable is? Click here.

Want to be a part of Project Unbreakable? Email us at projectunbreakable@gmail.com

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Find us on Facebook & Twitter

View submissions here


Me! (Reposting because typos are fixed!)

I posed for this last week, the day before the 2nd anniversary of my rape. On the anniversary, I celebrated me. I treated myself to a massage, Ben & Jerry’s on a walk, reading in a amongst roses in a garden, painting my toenails pink, no makeup, comfy underwear, comfy shirt that I don’t have to “suck in” for while wearing, and cheesecake to-go at Cheesecake Factory. I didn’t try to keep busy or ignore the day. I fully accepted any thoughts or feelings as they came. It was all about self-care. With all of the sharing and self-care, it turned out to be a really healing week.

I’m really glad that I participated in this amazing project. I can only hope that The Duct Tape Project can be as successful one day!

Me posing for an incredible sexual assault awareness project that you should really check out: Project Unbreakable