The name Brock Turner has been plastered all over newspapers, magazines and social media. I know this article will become one of millions of posts on the issue, but I feel like I still need to do my part to spread awareness.
For those of you who haven't kept up with this case, I'll give you the gist. Brock Turner was a Stanford student who raped an unconscious girl behind a dumpster after a party. When the case went to court and Turner was found guilty, what should have been a 14 year jail sentence ended up being only six months-- a mere slap on the wrist for a felony. For this minor sentence we have Judge Aaron Persky to blame.
Brock argued that the assault wasn't his fault because both he and the victim were drunk. Turner's father made a statement in court saying that Brock shouldn't have his life ruined for "20 minutes of action." Apparently Persky agreed by issuing this joke of a sentence for a heinous crime, trying to make this rape nothing more than a speed bump in Turner's life. Because the appointed judge seems to think that rape is only a minor incident, not anything life ruining.
But sexual assault is something that ruins lives. Brock, his father and Judge Persky all seem to forget that there was a victim involved. A woman who deserves safety and happiness. In court she read a letter addressing Turner talking about how the rape impacted her. You can read that here. When no one was standing up for her, she stood up for herself and by doing so, spoke on behalf of all the victims who have also been silenced by our judicial system.
This case makes me so sick. With the sentencing of Turner, America has gotten a picture of how we as a country have lost our humanity. We have become a country that condones victim shaming, a country that supports sexism and violence, a country that protects rapists and sends a message to victims that no one cares. This assault was no one's fault besides Brock's. He was the one that hurt this woman.
She wasn't asking for it because she was drinking. She wasn't asking for it because of anything she was wearing.
Literally no one on this planet would ever want to be raped. Brock Turner needs to be punished for the crime he committed, not handed a half-ass sentencing that lets him off easy. This case is the epitome of why rape culture is so dangerous, and it breaks my heart.
I would never want to have a daughter in a society like this. How would I explain to her that she is a second-class citizen purely because she was born a woman? How would I look into her eyes and tell her that our judicial system cares more about the reputation of rich, white men than it does her safety. How would I sleep at night knowing that I've brought her into a culture that has little concern for her rights as a human being. We have become a violent, twisted, disgusting America.
I wish I could end this article on a positive note, but there's still no ending for this issue. Until the day rape culture ends, until sexism crumbles and until women can feel like safe, equal citizens under our laws, we can only stay strong and fight back. We have to watch out for each other, ladies, because apparently no one else will.
