After watching the disturbing video made by mass murderer Elliot Rodger prior to killing seven people at University of California, Santa Barbara, Lena Dunham posted a series of updates on Twitter and Instagram in support of the #YesAllWomen discussion.
She began by saying she wished she hadn't seen Rodger's video.
I wish I hadn't seen the shooter's video.
And described how she was harassed in school by a "very disturbed boy":
In high school a very disturbed boy told me if I didn't choose to love him he would make me, followed by a series of graphic threats...
... My school handled it quickly and never questioned how I'd "provoked" him and it told me that I matter. I wish that for every woman.
She even convinced her own therapist to not watch the video.
I think I just convinced my therapist not to watch the Elliott Rodgers video so I've done something right in my life
And defended using the shooter's name in public.
Publicity isn't the problem. The abject terror this instilled in women is. RT @Levertis_Minter: way to tweet his name to 1.5 million people
Standing up for women's rights runs in the family, as Dunham's sister Grace taped "IX" on her graduation cap, in honour of the U.S. Title IX amendment.
Today of all days, I loved seeing my sister and her friends graduate and ask their university to do better for victims of sexual assault.
Title IX is a portion of the Education Amendments of 1972.
Title IX states: "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance."
And in an April 2011 letter issued by the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights, this includes sexual harassment, as "the sexual harassment of students, including sexual violence, interferes with students' right to receive an education free from discrimination and, in the case of sexual violence, is a crime."
There has been a lot of controversy surrounding many universities' commitment to upholding Title IX, including 55 colleges that are currently under federal investigation for mishandling sexual abuse claims.
And it appears that although Lena's statements ruffled a few feathers, she isn't bothered:
"I love you my brave web friends."
Just gotta say, on the almost-summer's day, I love you my brave web friends #YesAllWomen