As I was scrolling through my Facebook timeline this past week I couldn't help but notice that almost every person on my friends' list was sharing posts about the same thing. I'm not someone who usually spends a lot of time on Facebook but since the summer has started I've had some extra time to browse through my social media accounts. Before last week, I was completely unaware of the Stanford rape/sexual assault case, but because so many people were sharing articles, statuses, memes, etc. about it, I decided to read up on it.
Most of the things that people were sharing had the same viewpoint and it was that what happened was inexcusable and wrong and disgraceful. Many of the people on my friends' list were outraged at the outcome of the case and the extremely light punishment that the rapist, Brock Turner, was going to be receiving. After reading more about the case I was able to form my own opinion, which was a lot like the opinion of my peers. I couldn't and still can't seem to wrap my mind around the fact that a judge could say that jail is too severe for a criminal, but somehow completely disregard how severe the trauma of being raped/sexually assaulted could be on the victim’s life.
A day or so passed and the articles and statuses were still being shared with the same amount of disbelief and anger behind them. Then I stumbled upon one post and decided to read the comment section. A young woman had made a very long comment that was excusing the rapist, Brock Turner, for his actions and blaming the victim for what had happened. The comment basically said that he was intoxicated, so it's excusable that he raped/sexually assaulted someone, but that the victim was also intoxicated, so it's the victim’s fault that this happened -- the victim should have known better. Another young woman commented afterward and strongly disagreed with the other young woman’s comment, and I liked that comment and thought “yeah, you put her in her place.” But then I thought some more, and I began to wonder why the first young woman felt the need to rationalize the rape of another young woman in the first place.
At first when I read the comment I chalked it up to pure stupidity. I thought that the girl clearly was able to see the double standard that she had typed or that her reasoning really didn't make any sense, but then I understood that she probably didn't realize that at all. This girl actually thought that what she said made enough sense to post it for the world to see. I think that this is sad -- not sad in a condescending way, but actually sad. It's sad that we live in a society where someone can think that being under the influence is an excuse for someone to commit a rape but at the same time a reason for someone to be raped. I spent all this time wondering how the judge could give such a light sentence when it seemed like everyone was outraged, but maybe I failed to realize that he wasn't the only one who wasn't seeing the severity in the case.
This is not the first time that something like this has happened. There have been many similar stories that had outcomes where the attacker has gotten off easy, or where fingers have been pointed at the victim saying that they should have known better. I think that most people can recognize that what happened is going to directly affect the lives of the people who were involved, but some people may not recognize the impact that this case has and will have on society. This young woman’s comment is a great example.
There have been many times in the past where I have seen people blame the victims of sexual assault and rape. I know I'm not the only one who's scrolled through a social media post shaming a victim; we’ve all seen it at least once.
“Their clothes were too revealing.”
“They shouldn't have been alone.”
“They shouldn't have been so drunk.”
“They were asking for it.”
Sometimes we see these comments and similar comments that attack the victim’s character rather than the attacker’s character. We’re fed these lies that if we’re ever attacked, it may be our fault when in reality none of these things make someone more susceptible to being raped/sexually assaulted. So when the judge sentenced the rapist, Brock Turner, to six months in jail with a possibility of 90 days with good behavior, he reiterated those lies. He sent a message to everyone that for whatever reason a sexual predator is more of an asset to society than his victim. He sent a message that a sexual predator’s comfort is more important than the comfort of his victim. He sent a message that his crime isn't really a big deal and can be easily reconciled.
Instead of the young woman who posted the comment being the target of my anger, I realized that her comment was simply a product of the society that we live in: a society where a victim's character is questioned more than their attacker's character, a society where jail is too severe for criminals, and a society where a victim is expected to accept an apology that they never received. This situation had the potential to show our society that rape/sexual assault is not something that we tolerate and not something that you can get away with, but instead, it did the exact opposite. It showed potential attackers that they can do this with very little punishment, and it showed future and present victims that they are still nearly invisible. Until we stop tolerating these crimes, we will still see young women and men defend rape and demonize victims, because that's what we see happening in this case and many like it.
I was tempted to comment on the post and tell the young woman how stupid she sounded, but I decided not to. I decided not to because I realized how little that would've solved because the problem is much bigger than someone’s genuinely ignorant comment on a Facebook post. The issue is rooted in the society that this woman is living in and in the flaws of the justice system that are supposed to protect that young woman and all people from predators like Brock Turner.
