Chanel Miller

Yewon Jo

March 13, 2026

It is quite difficult to talk about the realm of memoirs by influential women and leave out Chanel Miller. Her memoir, Know My Name, illustrates the victim’s viewpoint of the People v. Turner sexual assault case, which happened on January 18th, 2015 right outside the campus of Stanford University. Turner was later sentenced to only six months in jail, causing national outrage against the judge who sentenced him and the ironic injustices of the American “justice” system.

Miller launches her perspective of a sexual assault victim trying to fight back against the injustices, but also does not leave out her struggles. She showcases the epitome of resilience and feminine strength, coming back maybe not stronger than ever, but having the formidable strength regardless to not give up her pursuit towards the right to respectful treatment of female sexual assault victims, who are often regarded as helpless or someone who is unreliable when it comes to testimonies and alibis. As a quintessential figure in facilitating the uprise of the #MeToo movement in social media across the world and the emergence of fourth wave feminism, Miller completely rejects this long-held prejudice towards victims. She encourages other hidden victims to speak up about their hardships and their experiences with the tragedy, she motivates women with similar experiences across the world to not give up but find one’s way back, however far off and difficult it may seem. She does not hide any of her hard years and specific emotions, giving a raw account of what it means to be a woman who has been wronged and yet is condemned when attempting to gain rightful legal, financial, and mental compensation.

Miller’s story shows women that the fundamental flaws in social systems cannot be the definition of who we are. Even if the major outlets such as abiding by the legal system and suing the perpetrator are blocked, it is important that you always have your own platform to create and to utilize. You are not weak, you are not unheard. The strength comes from within and it comes from creation solely with the purpose of one’s expression. Miller was not able to gain adequate legal sentencing to condemn the felon Brock Turner. However, her clever usage of social media and online articles started a global movement where women from all around the world were able to unite and help her make her voice heard to all along with the stories of numerous other victims over the years who were equally silenced. Silence is not composure, it is not humility, it is not beauty. Silence is oppression and a means to control. Miller is an inspiration to break that silence, and holler about as one wants about the injustices one has been done by society and is not ashamed to advocate for oneself whenever no one else seems to let you to do so.