Karimah Zakia Issa

[Karimah Zakia Issa @KarimahIssa]

SBI:0233c242-082c-4e9f-a92b-2f54197d4f6b
https://t.co/qw0hE0VWAA

[Karimah Zakia Issa @KarimahIssa]

@storrymusic This is hugely important - thank you for sharing. I hope it invites others to have these difficult conversations with the people they’re close to ♥️

[STORRY @storrymusic]

#tellyourstorry
#metooisntover

[STORRY @storrymusic]

CLOSING:
When a woman says she’s been assaulted no matter what she was wearing or how many times she may have slept with that person, she needs to be taken seriously.

It’s gotten to the point where women don’t know when they’re raped & men don’t even recognize they’re doing it.

[STORRY @storrymusic]

Pt 14 of 14
We need a world where #strippers #sexworkers are seen as a valued and respected part of our society. And not only when their educated and articulate and are nominated for JUNOs.
We need a world where men can’t buy women and act like they’re doing US a favour anymore.

[STORRY @storrymusic]

Pt 13 of 14
I don’t know what the answer is, but I know that I want to be able to BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY WHEN I STATE I WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AS A SEX WORKER. That I don’t have to have a gun to my head or be drugged to prove that my “boyfriend” coerced me into working for him.

[STORRY @storrymusic]

Pt 12 of 14
There are more slaves in the world than ever in history due to human trafficking of women & children. Not just 3rd world countries. It’s happening right HERE AND NOW! Most just don’t want to look at ourselves, our families, our dads, uncles, bros, husbands & friends.

[STORRY @storrymusic]

Pt 11 of 14
I’m NOT saying these industries should be abolished or that they’re without merit. Sex workers can help people. I attest to that. We’re like therapists. But the industry was CREATED by men, FOR men & is RUN by men. Until this changes, #exploitation will continue!

[STORRY @storrymusic]

Pt 10 of 14
Then there’s the media. #Pimp is used as a compliment. “Pimp my ride” & @50cent “P.I.M.P.” song are a few examples of how we’ve accepted this culture cuz it benefits the elite ppl who WANT to continue buying women, children, & have complete rein over these industries

[STORRY @storrymusic]

Pt 9 of 14
I never felt comfortable, safe or even remotely cared about to disclose anything further. It’s not like they’d even smile at u. I felt like I was the criminal...
where no one sees u as a valued part of society... #shamed

[STORRY @storrymusic]

Pt 8 of 14
We had to go line up at the manager’s office in our g-strings and have them check our IDs in the name of looking for minors, missing women or women who were being pimped. When they would ask me if I was there on my own accord, of course I said yes. Why?! Because...

[STORRY @storrymusic]

Pt 7 of 14
We need more women and more POCs enforcing the law. We need laws to change to include nuanced situations & respect for women & their bodies.
I remember the police coming in to check IDs at the strip club from time to time. We didn’t even have time to put on clothes...

[STORRY @storrymusic]

Pt 6 of 14
And I’m not even going to get into all the men in the music industry who abused their power, manipulated or simply blocked me from opportunities for not fucking them. That’s a rant for another day.
I’m tired of women having to suck it up. Our system has to change NOW!

[STORRY @storrymusic]

Pt 4 of 14
I mean, he never held a gun to my head to force me to work or even stay with him (is that still pimping?)
And he made me do sexual things I didn’t want to, which made me cry. But he was my partner... (is that still rape?) #rapeculture

[STORRY @storrymusic]

Pt 3 of 14
I never went to the police...
How can I disclose traumatic experiences to a body that I’m fearful of & who I don’t think will have my back?
How can I say, hey, so this guy I thought was my bf manipulated me into being a stripper & took all my $ every night. But...

[STORRY @storrymusic]

Pt 2 of 14
U know how many times I’ve wanted to disclose the man who pimped & abused me for years?
How often I was sexually assaulted as a stripper & knew no1 would care cuz I was a sex worker?
How many times I was raped without knowing I was being raped by my sexual “partner”?

[STORRY @storrymusic]

Pt 1 of 14
When I drive by a police station or see them driving behind me, all I feel is anxiety. And I’m not black. Even when I remind myself I’ve done NOTHING wrong. I don’t feel protected or safe. I think every time, we need a new system. We need a new form of reform. #defund

[STORRY @storrymusic]

Pt 0 of 14
PREFACE
I was inspired to write this thread after watching the show #IMayDestroyYou by the brilliant @michaelacoel (thk u) about rape culture that leaves me shaken, retraumatized & in tears after every episode. I make art in the same vein hoping to push culture forward