Spring Break
Center unveils documentary about violence against women
Tamar Weinberg
Issue date: 4/6/05 Section: News
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04/06/05 - The Sexual Assault and Trauma Resource Center of Rhode Island held a viewing of the documentary Searching For Angela Shelton last night. The event, held in Edwards Auditorium, was co-sponsored by the University of Rhode Island women's studies department, the Honors Program and the Raise Your Voice Campaign.
Angeline Martyn, director of communications for the center, introduced the film.
"Searching For Angela Shelton is a tough film to watch," Martyn said. "In all probability, all of you know someone who has been a victim of sexual assault."
The documentary followed sexual assault victim Angela Shelton throughout her 56 day trip across the United States, on which she sought women with the same name.
Out of the 40 she found, Shelton spoke with 24 who had been raped, beaten or molested at some point during their lives, according to the film.
Shelton heard many accounts of horrifying incidents of sexual and physical abuse.
"Men can be cruel," one of her interviewees said.
"Men are like a time bomb. You never know when he is going to go off," another said.
The women that Shelton met were all strong-willed and determined to get themselves out of the abusive relationship - even if it meant giving up everything they knew.
"It's not worth it to [to] stay in a abusive relationship, even if you have to leave everything you know behind," an abused woman told Shelton in the movie.
Shelton's decision to take the road trip was a personal one.
As a child growing up, Shelton and her step-sister Lisa where sexually molested by Shelton's father.
As a child, Shelton had to leave the environment she knew and enter a foster home.
"For five years my step-sister and I were sexually abused. My father would take us into his room and force us to jerk him off," Shelton said.
Shelton's step-mother was aware of the sexual abuse but did nothing to stop it, the film explained.
"She would grab Lisa by the arm, push her into his room and shut the door," Shelton said.
On her road trip Shelton also visited her abusers.
Shelton visited her brother who had also molested her. As opposed to the case with her father, she was able to forgive and make amends with her brother.
"I forgive you, I hope you can forgive yourself," Shelton said.
During the confrontation with her father Shelton remained calm, despite him denying ever having sexually molested her or her stepsister.
However, back in her motor coach she let her anger and frustration flow as she cursed and thrashed around the vehicle.
Shelton never pressed charges against her father for fear that the case would become too publicized.
Instead, on a church message board Shelton displayed the words, "It is still wrong, even if you do not get caught.
Angeline Martyn, director of communications for the center, introduced the film.
"Searching For Angela Shelton is a tough film to watch," Martyn said. "In all probability, all of you know someone who has been a victim of sexual assault."
The documentary followed sexual assault victim Angela Shelton throughout her 56 day trip across the United States, on which she sought women with the same name.
Out of the 40 she found, Shelton spoke with 24 who had been raped, beaten or molested at some point during their lives, according to the film.
Shelton heard many accounts of horrifying incidents of sexual and physical abuse.
"Men can be cruel," one of her interviewees said.
"Men are like a time bomb. You never know when he is going to go off," another said.
The women that Shelton met were all strong-willed and determined to get themselves out of the abusive relationship - even if it meant giving up everything they knew.
"It's not worth it to [to] stay in a abusive relationship, even if you have to leave everything you know behind," an abused woman told Shelton in the movie.
Shelton's decision to take the road trip was a personal one.
As a child growing up, Shelton and her step-sister Lisa where sexually molested by Shelton's father.
As a child, Shelton had to leave the environment she knew and enter a foster home.
"For five years my step-sister and I were sexually abused. My father would take us into his room and force us to jerk him off," Shelton said.
Shelton's step-mother was aware of the sexual abuse but did nothing to stop it, the film explained.
"She would grab Lisa by the arm, push her into his room and shut the door," Shelton said.
On her road trip Shelton also visited her abusers.
Shelton visited her brother who had also molested her. As opposed to the case with her father, she was able to forgive and make amends with her brother.
"I forgive you, I hope you can forgive yourself," Shelton said.
During the confrontation with her father Shelton remained calm, despite him denying ever having sexually molested her or her stepsister.
However, back in her motor coach she let her anger and frustration flow as she cursed and thrashed around the vehicle.
Shelton never pressed charges against her father for fear that the case would become too publicized.
Instead, on a church message board Shelton displayed the words, "It is still wrong, even if you do not get caught.
