A vocal supporter of the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements and abuse survivors throughout Hollywood and beyond, actress Rosario Dawson has recently shared that she herself is a survivor of sexual assault, according to People. In a recent guest spot on the feminist podcast Morado Lens, Dawson explained that she experienced sexual abuse as a child.
Speaking with hosts Cindy Rodrigues and Natalie Fairfan, she explained how the experience altered her perspective on facing similar occurrences as an adult, both in and out of the entertainment industry. “I was raped and molested as a child, so for me, the world was like that since I was a child,” she explained. “So when I saw it in the workplace, it wasn’t foreign to me. It was like, well, that even happens within the family. It happens with people that are supposed to take care of you when you’re a child.”
The unfortunate revelation is yet another important account that illustrates how prevalent of an issue it is when you consider that one in five girls are victims of sexual abuse.
At this month's Golden Globe Awards, the actress took part in the silent (and hotly debated) protest by appearing at the show in an all-black ensemble in solidarity. Now, it's even more apparent why the conversation surrounding it all was close to the star's heart.
On the same episode, Dawson discussed dealing with the aftermath of her cousin's death, after finding 26-year-old Veneza Ines Vasquez unresponsive in her home last year. That experience shifted her outlook on life and made her more grateful than ever.
“Whenever my moment comes, I wanna know that it’s been a good life. I don’t wanna be marinated in the upset, because I have a lot of trauma and sadness to dwell on if I want to," she shared with the show. "But there’s so much beauty and so many things to be grateful for. And I don’t want to waste my time not being dedicated to that.”
