By GottaLaff
Please take the time to read the whole thing:
I am a sexual assault survivor and I have been told by the TSA that while we can request a wanding (to avoid a pat-down), if we opt out of going through the body-scanner, they cannot guarantee the personnel or a wand would be available. The TSA rep told me that she could not guarantee that if I refuse to go through the scanner, that I won't be subjected to a pat-down. This is totally unacceptable to me and this incident in the UK only reinforces my fears.
I fought my attacker off, who had a gun by the way. I got out of it without being raped and with only a bad burn on my forehead where he tried to shoot me (either the gun didn't fire properly or it was a blank, but as soon as I realized I wasn't dead I went berserk on the guy and he gave up). I didn't go through all of that just to flash my boobs at a stranger who might have a camera in his or her pocket, or to be touched by a TSA agent, every time I have to fly. The lack of control over who sees or touches my body is what is bothering me, and sexual assault victims like me, the most.
I am starting a consulting project in Chicago in a few weeks and I am seeking therapy for the trauma just thinking about this is making me go through. I feel violated all over again. I know I got off easy because I was not actually raped or hurt badly like other sexual assault victims. I can only imagine what they are going through, if it is making me feel this horrified.
Security is an illusion. This technology is not even proven. Our government should not force its citizens to comply with such an egregious form of violation of our constitutional right to privacy if there is not guarantee it will work.
I have decided to take a stand. On my first return flight home, I will wear a one-piece bathing suit through security. I am a former competitive swimmer and while my body is not as toned as it used to be (having twins will do that to a woman) I feel comfortable being in front of people in my bathing suit (not a bikini - and for those of you who would like to make racy comments - please refrain because it is people like you who make me want to jump through my computer and commit bodily harm).
I want to take back control over what I will allow people to see and this is the only thing I can think of doing. My racing suit will show everything a scanner or a pat-down would detect and it would provide me with a way to control who sees what parts of my body. I will respectfully ask that they perform a visual scan, without touching me. If they will not comply, I will not fly, but I will take a stand.
Thank you for sharing that with us. You are a survivor, and security is indeed, an illusion.
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