x
Breaking News
More () »

'I didn't tell anyone for 53 years': Dale Hansen says society needs to stop shaming rape victims

America needs to have a long, hard discussion about how we deal with sexual assault and the allegations that follow.

America needs to have a long, hard discussion about how we deal with sexual assault and the allegations that follow. Allegations that too many times come too late.

More than 20 women have accused President Trump of sexual assault of one type or another, but he says they're not his type and they're all lying anyway.

Several studies say five, maybe 10 percent of sexual assault allegations aren't true. Trump says all of them against him aren't. What an incredibly unlucky man he is.

But Justice Department officials say nearly 80 percent of all sexual assaults are never reported. And I think that's true, because I'm one of the 80 percent.

I was a rape victim when I was 10 and I didn't tell anyone for 53 years. Women don't report and little boys don't either.

It's hard for the typical man or woman who's never been a victim to understand why people don't report, but I think I know why that is too.

We as a society have sent the message you should be ashamed, you should be embarrassed, when in fact you are only the victim of a crime, nothing more.

It is the only crime where the media doesn't identify the victim. 

Someone slashes your face, cuts off your arm, shoots you in the belly, and burns your house to the ground, we put your picture on tv.

If you are raped, we will not show you or name you, sending the message you should be ashamed.

We should identify the victims. We need to change that message, but there is so much more we need to be doing too.

And we need to have that conversation in America now.

RELATED: Watch more Dale Hansen Unplugged videos

Before You Leave, Check This Out