GAZELLE MAGAZINE WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH EDITION | Page 87

WELLNESS & WELL-BEING
GINA CHEATHAM, MID-40 S
Actress and TV Host
I
wholeheartedly trusted my older male
cousin’s judgement of character; thus,
when he told me his friend would like
to take me out, I happily accepted the
invitation. That invitation changed
my life forever. I was raped, trapped and held
at knife point with a blade to my throat as I
was violated. I couldn’t fight, I couldn’t flee.
I was powerless! And as I zoned out while
staring at the pink neon light across the room
to mentally escape my reality, I felt my spirit
break, my soul shatter and my joy slip away.
Unfortunately, this would not be the last
time that my dignity would be stolen. Years
later, while working in corporate America,
I was continuously sexually harassed by
my boss, who, ironically, was the director of
the department, charged with protecting
employees rather than preying on them.
I naively believed that the truth would be
unveiled and the evil rooted out. Instead, he
was promoted to vice president while the
complaints of his sexual inappropriateness in
and out of the office continued to mount ...
the details of which I am not allowed to speak
on publically until 2024.
SAVVY I SOPHISTICATED I SASSY
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