This past week, star athlete Kobe Bryant finished off an illustrious career in the NBA. As one of the most accomplished basketball players in NBA history, there was extensive celebration of his numerous awards and records. The man even had a Snapchat filter in his honor, and that's when you know you are a big deal. Coupled with the fact that he rakes in roughly $25 million annually, people look to Bryant as an image of success in the sports industry, as we greatly value athletic ability and wealth in our culture.
There is no denying that he is worthy of this acclaim and fortune, but Bryant’s powerful status seems to be a justification for behavior that simply should never be justified, specifically in regard to women.
In 2003, Bryant was accused of raping a 19-year-old woman.
This is just as relevant to his legacy his many awards and records. Though the victim ultimately dropped criminal charges after 15 months and settled the civil case behind closed doors, this case left a precedent of victim blaming that still influences how other high-profile rape cases are perceived to this day.
The victim was sexually active. She had previously attempted suicide and was hospitalized for mental illness. As an aspiring singer, she had once tried out for the television show "American Idol." The media quickly twisted these things into a portrait of an unstable, fame-hungry "slut" who would do anything for attention. Journalist Mark Shaw wrote “with her identity known, her past sex life revealed, her mental state common knowledge, and her life in shambles due to constant anguish about the motive behind the charges, it is no wonder that she threw in the towel.”
Why is this the norm in dealing with cases of rape?
There are men’s groups online that claim women lie about getting raped 90 percent of the time. A sheriff in Idaho recently made a statement saying they do not need a better system for rape kits because most of the cases are actually consensual sex. Yes, it is true that women can lie about getting raped to exact revenge, but how often does that actually happen? A 2013 study shows that only 2-8 percent of rape accusations are false. This is a low statistic in the crime world; for example, about 10 percent of theft reports are false. This statistic also includes cases where the victim misidentified the perpetrator or had difficulty recalling certain details, and this tends to be extremely common when a person experiences trauma. It also includes cases where the victim recants, like the woman Bryant sexually assaulted, and this can often be a product of immense pressure and ridicule being directed toward the victim. This all comes down to the fact that false rape accusations are pretty rare, and even so, we dub the victims as liars far more often than not.
This tendency stems from the fact that most rapists are not creepy men hiding in the shadows of alleyways that jump out and rape women. They are normal people that we know and love -- be it a family member, a friend, a co-worker, or a celebrity -- and it is difficult to come to terms with the fact that someone we respect did something terrible.
Bryant still came out on top in his rape case because despite lying to the detective on his case and relating an inconsistent account of what had transpired, he can still do no wrong because he is a wildly successful and well-respected athlete. So, in light of his retirement and the immense praise he has received for his career, understand that, simultaneously, he and his brand represent how some incredibly problematic, systematic issues are ignored and manifest in our society today.
