Don't Let Anyone Take Your Voice Away

One Marshallese woman explains why she chose to speak despite fear, stigma, and uncertainty

For months, women who reported sexual harassment while working at U.S. Army Garrison–Kwajalein have largely remained anonymous.

Some say they feared retaliation.

Others worried about losing their jobs, bringing shame to their families, or speaking publicly about deeply personal experiences.

One of those women agreed to speak with Chikin Melele—not to identify herself or revisit the details of the alleged harassment, but to explain why she believes silence can be just as damaging as the original harm.

“I want Marshallese women to know that they have rights as human beings to be treated respectfully,” she said. “To know it’s okay to have boundaries.”

The woman is one of five Marshallese women who, she said, initially came forward with complaints. Two later withdrew because of the difficulty of the process.

Although she requested anonymity, she said she wanted other women to hear a message she wishes someone had given her.

“Speaking up is hard due to cultural norms and religious norms in the islands, but it brings light to injustice—for ourselves and for the future of our island communities.”

Speaking Against Silence

She described the decision to report as one of the most difficult choices she has ever made.

Marshallese culture places a high value on respect, family relationships, and avoiding public confrontation. Those values help strengthen communities, she said, but they can also make it difficult for victims to report harassment or abuse.

“There are people and agencies ready to support you,” she said. “You might also meet those who might not support you, and you need to dig deep in your heart for strength to stand alone if you have to.”

She hopes other women understand that reporting wrongdoing does not mean abandoning Marshallese values.

Instead, she believes speaking up can protect future generations.

“Your story might be the last thread of hope for someone else going through the same pain.”

More Than One Barrier

The woman said the challenges did not end after deciding to report.

She described a process that was confusing, emotionally exhausting, and difficult to navigate—particularly for women who needed interpretation or were uncomfortable discussing intimate experiences in front of people they knew.

She said some women wanted trusted interpreters present because describing traumatic experiences required not only accurate language, but also a sense of safety and dignity. According to her account, some women became so intimidated by the reporting process that they chose not to continue.

“The logistics of this have been a nightmare,” she said.

She emphasized that for many Marshallese women, reporting harassment means overcoming multiple fears at once: fear of losing employment, fear of retaliation, fear of being blamed, and fear of continuing to encounter the person they reported.

“The fear of losing one’s job if one reports, the fear of family finding out, the fear of getting hurt again if he finds out one reported him.”

A Call for Understanding

The woman also hopes readers in the United States better understand the cultural context surrounding Marshallese survivors.

“Marshallese people are the most non-confrontational people you will ever meet,” she said. “Causing a scene or making others feel uncomfortable is not part of the way our people are.”

Because of that, she believes reports of harassment should never be dismissed lightly.

“When they muster up the strength to come forward,” she said, “it should be taken into consideration that they are going against the fiber of their way of behavior and culture.”