Michaela Cross, an American student at the University of Chicago, has written a powerful account of her study abroad trip to India last year, during which she says she experienced relentless sexual harassment, groping and worse. Upon her return, she says she was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and is now on a mental leave of absence from the school after a public breakdown in the spring. Cross, a fair-skinned, red-haired South Asian studies major, titled her story "India: The Story You Never Wanted to Hear." She posted her account on CNN iReport under the username RoseChasm. Her story has struck a chord around the world, racking up more than 800,000 page views as of Wednesday morning. It quickly found its way to India, where many readers sympathized with the story and men felt compelled to apologize for the experience she endured. Others called for greater perspective and warned against making generalizations about India or its people.
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U.S. college student Michaela Cross spent three months abroad in India
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She says she and others faced repeated sexual harassment in India
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She was diagnosed with PTSD and is now on a leave of absence
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She shared her story to make others more aware
Her story sparked a wave of reaction online, with scores of @placeholder responding, many with sympathy to her plight and pointing out that Indian women also experience high levels of harassment and abuse.