University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine
The Robert G. Fenley Writing Awards: General Staff Writing
Gold
When Julie, a young actress, was sexually assaulted in the bathroom of a Santa Monica bar, her friend immediately brought her to UCLA Health’s Rape Treatment Center (RTC). Julie received emergency medical care, a forensic examination and several months of trauma-informed counseling. With RTC’s help, she was eventually able to restore her sense of safety and “take back my power.” This story highlights the work of the RTC on the 50th anniversary of its founding by a hospital social worker. It’s where Julie and thousands of other survivors – adults and children from 3 months to 93 years old – have found comfort and healing. And remarkably, all of its services are offered at no cost. But the impact of this world-renowned facility has gone far beyond the individuals it serves. The RTC has influenced the legal and political systems and positively shaped the public’s perception of victims and survivors. For the last 50 years, the RTC’s mission has been to offer a pathway to justice. But for its dedicated staff, there is an equally strong drive: to one day shut the center’s doors because sexual assaults are no longer a reality and its services no longer needed.
What was the most impactful part of your entry?
The most impactful part of the story was the personal experience of Julie, the young woman who was featured in the story. Her courage in agreeing to be interviewed and how openly she shared her experience provided readers with a powerful and tangible understanding of how the Rape Treatment Center aids survivors of sexual assault in their healing journeys.
What is one thing you learned from your entry/experience?
The main challenge that writer Mary-Rose Abraham faced was the inherent difficulty in writing about sexual assault and its aftermath. This is particularly true in telling the story of the survivor, Julie. It began with the interview itself. Mary-Rose was careful to check with Julie about a venue that was comfortable for her, a café local to her house. To establish trust, the session began with sharing a meal and casual conversation. When Julie was ready to begin, it was immediately apparent that she wanted to talk through the entire experience. When she was finished, Mary-Rose asked Julie for permission to go back and break down some of the aspects of her treatment. It was a constant challenge to ask the questions as sensitively as possible and take cues from Julie on what she was comfortable sharing, consistently ensuring that the interview process was not re-traumatizing for her. The challenge continued into the writing, from the balance of information provided to the reader, ensuring accuracy with sensitivity, and all the other methods of writing to communicate trauma that is highly personal yet an issue of public policy and criminal justice with a history of stigma and silence.
Contact: Diya Chacko
dchacko@mednet.ucla.edu