Ok, I'll take the bait. Comparing the Salem Witch Trials to sexual violence is asinine at best. In none of the articles I've read, or the stories I've heard recounted, have I seen anyone say that they were harassed because someone said, "Hello" or "You look nice today." You're trivializing sexual violence and, by doing so, please know that there's a special place in hell for people like you.
I can't believe that there are people like you out there with your head completely in the sand. There are myriad reasons why "people wait" to disclose these things or, even worse, choose to never speak about it. First, let's set the context of those brave enough to come forward with these stories. All of these stories involve a predator and victim who either know each other or are familiar with each other. The "screaming" typically occurs when a victim does not know the predator. For instance, that's why those preying on children often use tools to break down the "stranger barrier". "I lost my puppy", "Would you like some candy", "Your parents asked me to pick you up" are effective at creating some sort of instant connection. The alternative - just snatching a child - would obviously incite screaming and create a scene that the predator would choose to avoid.
Now, back to your statement. Since the predator and the victim know each other, let's think about why the victim would choose silence. In virtually all of these cases, the predator is someone in a position of power. The predator is someone who holds a vast amount of influence. They are people who possess 100% control. Harvey Weinstein used the threat of never working in Hollywood again to those on whom he preyed. Others, like the women in Jerry Richardson's company, have fairly well-paid jobs and choose to internalize their emotions so as to not cause a disruption in their lives. Victims often stay silent because they're vulnerable to the power that their abusers have over the situation. Victims could lose their job or see their credibility attacked. The power dynamics at play in these situations - regardless of whether we're talking about Hollywood or Hagerstown - play a very large role in why victims stay silent.
In the case of the article above that I posted, put yourself in the victim's shoes for a moment. You're a homeless child living in a church and you're sexually assaulted by the pastor. You decide to speak up. Is everyone going to believe you or the trusted pastor - this so-called man of God? Let's not fool ourselves: you'll be out of a place to live, you'll be labeled a liar and your reputation will be tarnished (moreso than it likely already is given the circumstances). It's that fear, and possibly some guilt of ruining this pastor's life, that likely led to this victim remaining silent for years.
The power is shifting, however, from the predators to the victims and that's why we're seeing this wave of women and men feeling empowered to come forward.
