EP 26: How to Support Your Bestie After Sexual Assault FT. Katie W. Simon

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses the topic of sexual assault, but features no graphic depictions.

The National Sexual Violence Resource Center reports that:

81% of women and 43% of men have reported experiencing some form of sexual harassment and/or assault in their lifetime
One in three female victims of completed or attempted rape experienced it for the first time between the ages of 11 and 17
About one in four male victims of completed or attempted rape first experienced it between the ages of 11 and 17

This means that there is an unfortunately high likelihood that some you know, someone you are friends with and someone that you love has experienced sexual assault. You also might be someone who has experienced sexual assault. So, if you have struggled with either how to tell people or with how people have responded to learning what has happened to you, this episode is for you.

This week, Daysha invites sexuality journalist and former high school classmate, Katie W. Simon on the podcast to discuss her new book, Tell Me What You Like: An Honest Discussion of Sex and Intimacy After Sexual Assault, as well as how we can all be a better support system to our besties that have experienced sexual assault.

Katie W. Simon is a sexuality journalist who studied creative writing at NYU, Columbia, and the University of East Anglia. Her writing has appeared in Vogue, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the anthology, Anatomy of Silence. Her first book, Tell Me What You Like: An Honest Discussion of Sex and Intimacy After Sexual Assault, offers a positive approach to healing based on empathy and community from the stories of sexual assault survivors themselves. The book aims to provide the understanding and the tools for survivors to navigate their trauma and to cultivate the sex lives they desire and deserve. It will be published this year on July 29th and you can pre-order it at the links below. She currently lives in Texas with her dog, Babka.

Pre-Order Here:

Amazon (As an Amazon Associate, Daysha earns a small percentage from qualifying purchases)
Barnes & Noble
Bookshop.org
Your local bookstore

To connect with Katie:

IG: @Katiewsimon

BlueSky: @katiewsimon.bsky.social

Substack: https://katiewsimon.substack.com/

Website: https://www.katiewsimon.com/

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