Their Story Their Voice
Their Story Their Voice
Know My Name: The Courage of Chanel Miller
Before we dive in, I’d love to hear from you! Text me your stories or thoughts on kindness
Chanel Miller’s story is one of resilience, courage, and the power of reclaiming your voice. Known to the world as “Emily Doe” in the Brock Turner case, her victim impact statement ignited a global conversation about sexual assault, justice, and survivor advocacy. But Chanel is more than what happened to her—she is a writer, an artist, and a force for change.
In this episode, we explore Chanel’s journey from anonymity to empowerment, the significance of naming oneself, and the lasting impact of her words. Her story is a reminder of the strength found in softness and the transformative power of speaking your truth.
Please note transcription accuracy may vary.
Music by - Neffex - don't want to let myself down
Neffex - A year go
Sources:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Know-My-Name-Chanel-Miller/dp/073522370X
I survived because I remained soft because I listened, because I wrote, because I hurtled close to my truth, protected it like a tiny flame in a terrible storm. Chanel Miller, know my name. Hope you're all well, hope you're all good This quote speaks to the heart of Chanel Miller's story. Before the world knew her name, she was simply known as Emily Doe, the anonymous voice behind a victim impact statement that shook the world. But Chanel Miller is more than just a survivor, she's an artist, a writer, and an advocate who took back her power by reclaiming her name and her story today, in honor of International Women's Month, or just if you're in the UK and we've got a day which was on the 8th of March, I wanted to put out an episode every week. I know I missed one last week. I will put out. Another episode at some point explaining why that was missed. But for now, I just wanted to honor Chanel Miller's story. There won't be any of my interruptions, I'm not going to go off on any tangents, I'm just going to stick to Chanel's story. The quote that I read speaks to the heart of Chanel Miller's story. Before the world knew her name, she was simply known as Emily Doe, the anonymous voice behind a victim impact statement that shook the world. But Chanel is more than just a survivor. She's an artist. She's a writer and an advocate who took back her own power by reclaiming her name and her story. So today, it'd be nice if you joined me to explore who Chanel Miller is. Beyond the case, why naming herself was such a profound act of resilience and the lasting impact her words have had on survivor advocacy and the justice system. So we are going to start. Who is Chanel Miller before she became known to the world? Chanel Miller was a young woman pursuing her passions in writing and art. Born in Palo Alto, California. She grew up with a deep love for storytelling and creativity. She attended the University of California, Santa Barbara. where she studied literature and wrote stories that reflected her introspective and artistic mind. Chanel Miller's name is of Chinese American descent her background plays an important role in how she navigated both her personal identity and the public perception of her case. In Know My Name, she discusses how being an Asian American woman impacted the way she was seen and treated, both in the legal system and in society. Historically, Asian women have been stereotyped as silent or submissive, and Chanel's decision to speak out challenged those expectations. Her courage in reclaiming her story was not just one about personal survival. It was also about breaking through cultural and societal barriers that often have attempted Diminish women's voices, especially women of colour. Her name, Chanel, carries a significant cultural and familial connection. In Mandarin, her Chinese name is Xiao Xia, Zheng which means little summer. The name represents warmth, renewal, and a silent strength, qualities that would later define her resilience and her advocacy. She describes how Chanel was the name her mother lovingly chose for her. A name that carried a sense of elegance and strength. But for years, her true name and identity were stripped away, as she was referred to only as Emily Doe. The anonymous survivor of a high profile sexual assault case that would later expose the deep flaws in the justice system. but Chanel is not just the victim of a crime, as I mentioned before, she's also a writer, an artist, and a woman who reclaimed her identity through her own words. Everyone has an escape. A safe place that grounds them. For Chanel Miller, that was art and writing. She would write when she was upset, sad, or even bored. Using words as her steady ground in uncertain times, writing wasn't just an outlet. It was a way to process her emotions, reclaim her power and make sense of her world. Her creativity became her sanctuary and later her greatest tool for healing. In January 2015, Chanel Miller was sexually assaulted by Brooke Turner, Outside a fraternity party at Stamford University. Two graduate students would witness the attack and they would intervene, leading to his arrest. The case gained national attention when, despite overwhelming evidence, he would receive a lenient six month sentence of which he only served three months. What made this case even more impactful was Chanel's impact statement, which was read out loud in court and later published by BuzzFeed. Her words would resonate with millions. Shedding light on the failures of the legal system in addressing sexual assault cases. Her statement would be read on the floor of Congress. Inspiring legislation and reform. But behind all of this, Chanel Miller remained anonymous. The world knew her only as Emily Doe. They did not know the woman behind the words. For four years. She lived in the shadow of a case that was spoken about everywhere, yet she herself remained invisible. The day she stepped forward as Chanel Miller. She shattered that silence on her own terms. The media played a significant role in shaping public perception of the case. Instead of censoring on Chanel's trauma and survival, much of the coverage would focus on Brooke Turner's background, portraying him as a promising Stamford swimmer with a bright future ahead. Headlines often highlighted his athletic achievements rather than his crime. Subtly shifting the narrative to frame him as a young man who made a mistake rather than a convicted sex offender. This type of reporting reflects a broader issue. How privilege and racial and socio economic bias influence the media coverage. Many would point out that if Brooke Turner had been a young black man instead of a white Ivy League athlete, the tone of the coverage and even the sentence might have been drastically different. The emphasis on. His lost potential, rather than the impact on Chanel Miller, was a glaring example of how society, rather than the impact on Chanel Miller, was a glaring example of how society often protects predators at the expense of survivors. Brooke Turner was sentenced to six months in county jail and three years of probation, but he ultimately only served three months before being released. His sentence would spark widespread outrage. and led to significant discussions about leniency in sexual assault cases, particularly when the perpetrator is privileged. Chanel would write, What is the point of a sentencing if it is so much lighter? Then the damage inflicted in the aftermath of the assault, the actions of the two Swedish graduate students, Carl Frederick Arndt and Peter Johnson, who intervened were widely praised their willingness to stop the attack, Chase Turner down and testify in court demonstrated something crucial. Men have lines that other men do not cross. Their intervention highlighted, their intervention highlighted the difference between those who turn a blind eye and those who stand against violence. Serves a reminder that responsibility does not just lie with the survivors. But with everyone in society, especially men, who have the power to call out harmful behavior and protect those at risk. Chanel would describe them as the helpers, the seers and the doers. Chanel would also write that society struggles to wrap its head around the fact that bad qualities can hide inside good people. For over four years, the world knew Chanel Miller. As Emily Doe, the anonymous survivor at the centre of a widely publicised case. But before she became Emily Doe, before her words would shake the justice system, she carried this burden in silence. In the year following her assault, Chanel told only a small handful of people. Her sister, Tiffany, Who was the first person she confined in, but even then she withheld the details, not wanting to place that weight on her friends, on her family. She eventually shared it with a few close friends and her parents, but even in those private spaces, she struggled with how much she would reveal. She describes in Know My Name how isolating it felt. Not just the trauma itself, but the hesitation, the uncertainty of how others would react, the fear of disrupting their lives with something so heavy. Her silence mirrored what so many survivors experience. The feeling that speaking up might make things worse, that it might make people uncomfortable, that it might even define them in ways they can't control. And for a long time, Chanel was defined by others. The legal system, the media, and by this name, Emily Doe. But then, she chose to reclaim her name by stepping forward as Chanel Miller. She took ownership of her own story in a way that had been denied to her. It was not just about revealing her identity. It was an act of resilience against the silence that so often surrounds survivors. In telling her story, on her own terms, she showed the world that she was not just a name on a court document, not just a victim, but an entire person, an entire human being, with a voice worth hearing. For four years, Chanel lived in animinity, watching her story evolve without the ability to shape her own narrative. But in 2019, she reclaimed her identity with the release of her memoir, Know My Name. In doing so, she reintroduced herself to the world, revealing her name was an act of courage. It was declaration that she was not just a footnote in a case, not just a victim of a crime, but a person who had a voice that mattered. Chanel's choice to step forward. Was not just about herself. It was about every survivor who has felt defined by a moment rather than the entirety of who they are Chanel Miller's story would spark conversations around the world her words forced people to confront the failings of of everything of themselves of the justice system of speaking up and It re cemented the importance of believing victims when they speak out. Her book, Know My Name, became a bestseller. Praised for its poetic, unflinching and deeply personal storytelling. It would be translated into Spanish, Chinese. French and American Sign Language, among others. Her words changed laws, changed conversations, and most importantly, how survivors saw themselves, not just as victims, but as people whose voices deserved to be heard. Her case would lead to legislative changes, including the recall of Judge Aaron Persky, who handed Turner his lenient sentence. It also fueled discussions on consent laws, sentencing reform. And Survivor rights, Chanel Miller became a symbol of resilience, not because of what happened to her, but because of how she chose to reclaim her story. Chanel Miller's journey reminds us that names hold power, power to shape identity. To reclaim autonomy and to speak truth to injustice. Her story teaches us the importance of listening to survivors, acknowledging the impact of trauma and ensuring that no one's story is erased or dismissed. If you come on the worst day of your life, my hope is to catch you, to gently guide you back. Chanel Miller's words. I've caught so many. When her impact statement was first published, it reached survivors who had never spoken about their pain, who had never put words to their experiences. It reached parents, siblings, friends. People who finally understood what a loved one had gone through. It traveled across the world because her truth is not just hers. It belongs to every survivor who has ever been silenced, doubted or dismissed. And that is a legacy of know my name, Chanel Miller's words, They don't just tell a story, they offer a hand. They say, you're not alone. I see you. I believe you. And finally, to girls everywhere, I'm with you. On nights when you feel alone, I'm with you. When people doubt you or dismiss you, I am with you. I fought every day for you. So never stop fighting. So if you're listening to this today, if you are carrying something heavy, if you felt lost in the aftermath of your own worst day, maybe you feel the quiet strength of those words. Maybe you know that even in the darkest moments, there are people who will catch you. Her words continue to echo in the fight for justice and survivor advocacy. a statement to the strength it takes to stand up and be heard. I will put the link to Chanel's book and where you can get it. Um, you will feel all the feelings and maybe actually that's okay to feel all the feelings. And if you don't, that's okay. Also, I do want to just add. I have this book by this author called Donna Ashworth, who I have mentioned before, and I want to give away a copy of one of her books I just want to share the love. So if you are interested in getting a free ebook or a hard copy, Either send me a message or put it on the text. Which I think there's something that says, send me a text or you can DM me on Instagram. My Instagram handle is chataholic.me me. As always, be kind to others, but most importantly, be kind to yourself. Bye, bye, bye, bye.
