There are days when my heart feels heavy, burdened by thoughts I can’t ignore. As a woman, I carry with me the weight of experiences—some lived, some shared by friends, some that I’ve heard whispered in the quiet corners of my mind. Harassment. It’s a word that carries so much weight, yet for many, it is still misunderstood. Too often, we focus on the physical acts—the unwanted touches, the leering gazes, the encroachment on our personal space. These are real. These hurt, deeply. But what I have come to understand, what I carry deep inside, is that harassment goes far beyond what you can see. The invisible wounds it leaves behind, the scars that aren’t visible to the eye, are the ones that cut the deepest.
Harassment isn’t always loud. It isn’t always forceful. Sometimes, it begins so quietly, in the smallest moments—those glances that linger just a bit too long, the words that slip out, the advances that are disguised as compliments. At first, you try to ignore them. Maybe you think it’s harmless. Maybe you think you’re overreacting. But then it continues, these subtle violations of your boundaries, of your autonomy, and slowly, like an invisible weight, it builds and presses upon your soul. What’s worse is that it’s often hard to name, hard to explain. It’s the feeling of being unseen, of being reduced to nothing but an object to be admired or used, without your voice ever being heard, without your consent ever being considered.
What I’ve come to realize is that harassment isn’t just physical—it’s emotional. It’s psychological. It’s in the way someone disregards your “no,” the way their actions make you feel small, powerless, unseen. It’s in the way they steal your space, your dignity, and your peace of mind. They take what is yours and turn it into something they feel entitled to. The worst part? They don’t even see us as human. They don’t see us as people with feelings, with autonomy, with rights. We are merely something to be controlled, something to be objectified.
And that, my dear, is the real tragedy. Because when someone violates you like that, when they disregard your humanity, they rob you of more than just a moment. They rob you of the ability to trust—trust in yourself, trust in others, trust in the world around you. They make you question your worth. And that questioning, that doubt, echoes in the silence long after the encounter is over. It’s the heaviness you feel in your chest when you walk into a room, wondering if someone will be watching you too closely. It’s the way you hesitate to speak up, to set a boundary, because you’re afraid of the consequences of doing so.
But the truth is, we, as women, deserve more. We deserve more than just the space to exist without fear. We deserve respect. We deserve love. We deserve to be seen, fully, wholly, and without apology. We deserve intimacy that is rooted in trust, in mutual respect, in consent. The kind of intimacy that is shared freely, where both parties come together with open hearts, not driven by selfish desire but by a deep, emotional connection.
For me, real intimacy, real love, is something sacred. It’s something that takes time to build, that is nurtured through kindness, patience, and understanding. Love is a bond that is created through vulnerability, through honesty, through the willingness to truly see each other—not as objects of desire, but as partners, equals, and individuals deserving of respect. True love is about connection, not conquest. It’s about seeing and being seen. It’s about respecting boundaries, communicating openly, and above all, recognizing that sex is something to be shared, not something to be taken.
Sex, when it is born out of love, is something powerful and beautiful. It’s an act that brings two souls together, not just their bodies. It’s a moment where you can express your deepest desires and emotions without fear, knowing that the other person values you just as deeply as you value them. When sex is an expression of love, it transcends the physical. It becomes a celebration—a celebration of trust, of intimacy, of the joy of truly being with someone in a way that is pure, that is mutual, that is right.
But when sex is taken, when it is demanded, when it is not shared but forced, it loses its beauty. It becomes something ugly, something hollow. Harassment, in its essence, is about taking that sacred act, that beautiful moment, and turning it into something selfish. It strips away the magic that comes from connection, from mutual respect, from love. It is about disregarding someone’s humanity and reducing them to an object, a tool to be used for personal pleasure.
This is why harassment hurts in ways that cannot be easily explained. It is not just a violation of our bodies—it is a violation of our hearts, of our spirits, of our right to choose. No woman should ever feel like she has to endure something that diminishes her sense of self, her sense of worth. We are not here for others to take from—we are here to be loved, to love, to connect deeply with others who respect and value us.
I write this as a woman who knows the power of love, the beauty of intimacy shared with respect. I write this as someone who believes that true connection is one of the most powerful experiences we can have. Love should lift us up, make us feel safe, cherished, and seen for who we truly are. Sex should be a reflection of that love—a way to connect, to share, and to give, not to take.
So to every woman who has ever felt violated, unheard, or unseen—I see you. Your pain is real, and your worth is unshakable. No one has the right to take your body, your soul, or your voice. You are worthy of love, of respect, and of a connection that honors you in every way. You deserve a love that sees you, values you, and celebrates you—the real you, not the object you’ve been made to feel like.
To every woman who has been hurt: let this be a reminder that your body is yours. Your voice is yours. Your love is yours to give when and to whom you choose. And above all, you are worthy of the kind of love that is real, true, and built on mutual respect. We will reclaim our power, we will reclaim our voice, and we will never, ever settle for anything less than love that lifts us up.
How’s harrassment dealt with in Turkey?
In Turkey, dealing with harassment remains a significant issue, despite various legal regulations and efforts to raise public awareness. Victims of harassment often struggle to find the courage to speak out, as victim-blaming and tolerance toward such behavior are still common in society. Legally, there are penalties for harassment, but practical challenges such as the long duration of cases and occasional inadequacies in enforcement persist. Additionally, victims often find it more difficult to cope with harassment due to societal pressures and fear, which further complicates their ability to seek justice. This situation could be improved through stronger awareness of gender inequality, women’s rights, and reforms within the legal system.