Women have been sharing their stories of sexual assault on social media in the wake of remarks from Donald Trump which were recorded in 2005.
The Republican Presidential candidate was caught speaking about how he tried to seduce a woman on a live microphone on the set of Days Of Our Lives, a daytime soap opera in the United States.
Trump was appearing on the show in a cameo role, but was recorded telling Access Hollywood host Billy Bush that because he is famous, "you can do anything."
"I just start kissing them," said Trump. "And when you're a star they let you do it. Grab them by the p****. You can do anything."
Trump has since released a video to apologise for the remarks, saying: "Anyone who knows me knows these words don't reflect who I am. I said it, I was wrong and I apologise.
"I pledge to be a better man tomorrow and will never, ever let you down."
However, author Kelly Oxford took to Twitter to state that the taped remarks were indicative of the way that rape culture is perpetuated and ignored, and that women are all too familiar with the type of actions Trump was describing.
“Grab them by the p---y,” Trump says. “You can do anything.” And Billy Bush is like, OK! -This is rape culture. This is what we hear & live
— kelly oxford (@kellyoxford) October 7, 2016
She then encouraged women to tweet and share their experiences of sexual assault, nothing that she was first assaulted herself at age 12.
Women: tweet me your first assaults. they aren't just stats. I'll go first:
Old man on city bus grabs my "pussy" and smiles at me, I'm 12.
— kelly oxford (@kellyoxford) October 7, 2016
Thousands of women shared their stories in response, with Oxford stating that she was receiving two tweets per second detailing stories and experiences of assault.
One woman spoke about being assaulted at the age of four, while another stated that she had to list out the assaults as she was unsure which was the first one that she had suffered.
@kellyoxford so many I can't remember the first one. And didn't know it was assault until very recently. "Boys will be boys" I was told.
— Angie Orth (@AngieAway) October 8, 2016
@kellyoxford 12 yo in the back of station wagon for car pool. on a dare, classmate unhooks my bra. I spend ride redfaced while boys giggle
— lisabelkin (@lisabelkin) October 8, 2016
@kellyoxford Saddest thing: it took me a bit to consider what was my “first” assault. Had to list them out.
— Kaitlin Kelly (@caitidh) October 7, 2016
A number of hashtags related to the stories began to trend also, including #notokay and #grabbedbythepussy, where victims of sexual assault continued to highlight how common it was.
On Friday, President Obama signed the Sexual Assault Survivors' Rights Act into law, which passed in the House and Senate last month.
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan shared a message of his support for the act on Friday afternoon, saying that it will give the victims of sexual assault "full protection under the law."
Victims of sexual assault deserve full protection under the law. And now, they will have it. https://t.co/4DcL2YkpG6 pic.twitter.com/ktb8RlynqW
— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) October 7, 2016
A few hours later, he was forced to distance himself from the remarks of the Republican candidate about women and sexual assault, stating: "I am sickened by what I heard today. Women are to be championed and revered, not objectified.
"I hope Mr Trump treats this situation with the seriousness it deserves and works to demonstrate to the country that he has greater respect for women than this clip suggests."