I'm going to be very honest with you, this is not an easy video to watch. The reason it's so difficult to make it to the end of this video is because it's about a very heavy subject that not many people would like to discuss. Rape.
Rape is not a joke, so it shouldn't be the punch line to one. It's also not something to take lightly, therefore I am commending Lady Gaga on her flawless stride towards educating the public about campus sexual assault.
Because this music video doesn't candy coat different scenarios of sexual assault, the public can receive a raw image and example of what happens to 1 in 5 women on college campuses. The emotions of the victims throughout the video truly portray how sexual assault affects someone immediately and long term.
Sexual assault is demoralizing. It is painful. It can cause someone to doubt their self-worth. Women affected by sexual assault are more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol, develop depression, and run a higher risk of becoming suicidal.
No one should ever be shamed for something that is out of their control. A person's appearance is not deserving of assault. Being nice is not synonymous for "asking for it." There is no excusing an attacker's behavior by projecting it onto the victim. The emotional toll of being a victim of a sex crime is hard enough. Why make it even more difficult for someone to cope?
Until more is done in support of sexual assault awareness and prevention campaigns, an overwhelming amount of women will experience some form of sexual assault throughout college and the rest of their lifetime.
While this video is a giant step in the right direction of being brutally honest with the public about sexual assault, it is not enough. Sexual assault prevention is a movement that requires men and women alike to be educated about being a victim and also victimizing others.
If you are a victim of a sex crime, it is not your fault. There was nothing you did to deserve this type of abuse. You are loved and you deserve endless support from friends, family, and everyone else in your community.
You are not undesirable. You are not worthless. You are not defined by the things you cannot control.
On behalf of anyone who has been affected or knows someone who has been affected by sexual assault, I offer many thanks to Lady Gaga for producing a song and video that explicitly portrays the impact that sexual assault can have on a life.
To anyone who feels like they have no where else to turn, the National Sexual Assault Hotline is: (1-800-656-4673).
