A few weeks ago, we talked about the state of sex education in this country, and a large part of that conversation had to do with consent. This week, the conversation continues with a discussion about sexual assault and its effect on our society and the individuals that comprise it.

Last week, something monumentally stupid happened in a California court. After being convicted of three counts of felony sexual assault, former Stanford swimmer Brock Turner was sentenced to only six months in jail because the judge was concerned that anything more would have a "severe impact" on Turner's life. Let me say that again, just to make sure you got it. He was sentenced to only SIX MONTHS in jail after being convicted of THREE COUNTS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. Just let the stupidity of that sink in for a minute. This immature boy who decided to take something that wasn't his, just because he could, was given a light sentence because the judge was worried that it would have a significant impact on him! Now, we've all heard of victim blaming, but this is just a whole new level of idiocy. Why is ANYONE concerned with how this will impact him? In the famous words of anyone who likes to participate in the victim blaming, "He brought this on himself!" Brock Turner RAPED an unconscious woman behind a dumpster. He took away her self-confidence, her self-assurance, her dignity, and then he decided to drag her through it all again during an extensive trial, never admitting to the terrible wrong he had done.

Now, before I get really heated about the issue, I have to say something directly to his victim. I know I don't know you, but I want you to know that I have the utmost respect for you. I think you are one of the bravest young women of our generation to exist, being able to stand up in front of the scum of a person who took so much just because he wanted it, and tell him exactly what effect he had on your physical and psychological well-being. I know you are probably seeing and hearing that a lot, and I am sure that you are starting to get tired of it. But I hope you are realizing that you have monumental amount of support behind you (up to and including the vice president), and those are just the hundreds of thousands of people who have no idea who you are. I hope that you someday get to a place where you don't relive it every day. I hope that you are able to be happy with your partner. I hope that your family and friends have been everything you needed them to be during this disaster. And most importantly, I hope you realize that this was in no way your fault. 0%. You had nothing to do with it.

So here's the part where I get really mad. This could have happened anywhere. I know that. And it does happen everywhere. Every day women are getting sexually assaulted. Men are getting sexually assaulted. It's happening in New York City and San Francisco, and it's happening in Lincoln, Nebraska and Cheyenne, Wyoming. Don't worry, I'm not under the impression that this is only happening where I live. BUT THIS IS WHERE I LIVE. Now, the judge is getting a lot of heat (as he well should), but he isn't the only part of this system that is broken. Where were Brock's parents to teach him that rape was bad? Right behind him in court saying that his excellent swim record should excuse "20 minutes of action." Where was the probation officer who should have taken the gravity of the situation into account? Suggesting that he spend no more than a year in county jail because Brock surrendered a swimming scholarship that SOMEONE WHO RAPES PEOPLE doesn't deserve. Even the prosecutor suggested only 6 out of the 14 years in state prison that they could have. It starts to seem like the only people who did anything right here were the 12 peers of this victim and Brock Turner who convicted him on 3 counts of sexual assault given the evidence presented, and the two bicyclists who took it upon themselves to rescue the victim.

But personally, the judge is the one who worries me the most (other than the rapist). I am a 21 year old girl who now lives in the same state as not only yet another convicted sex offender, but a judge who let him off with six months of county jail and probation. Is this the first time you've let someone off easy so as not to "severely impact" their lives? Is he the only one of your past defendants that I have to worry about running across when I go out with friends? Is this a pattern, that you excuse privileged young athletes of violent (whether you think it was or not) crimes because you don't think they need harsher punishment? Do you realize that you are perpetuating rape culture? Do you realize that you are only further reinforcing the sense of entitlement these little bastards have already, instilled in them by terrible parenting? A moron (because he's definitely not a man) who is willing to take what they want regardless of consent being given is not going to "learn from his mistakes," especially when he won't own up to it to begin with. Even having admitted to the fact that he sexually assaulted this young woman, he won't call it what it is. He justifies it. He says she liked it. He subjects her to terrible lines of questioning that brought her character under attack to prove that what he did wasn't wrong. He even says that it happened because of alcohol and he is sorry he drank too much. But never once did Brock Allen Turner admit that he had raped this woman and that it was a terrible thing to do to another human person.

Earlier this week, I had a conversation with my parents about this story. The thing that resonated with me most? My dad said that "Had this whole sentencing controversy happened 3 months earlier, this judge wouldn't have a seat." And he's right. Unfortunately, this judge ran unopposed for another term, and on Wednesday of this week, he was officially named to the position for another election cycle. A judge who lost his first campaign for the seat. A judge who was appointed to the seat by the only governor of California who has ever been recalled. Obviously he is not the high standard that we want in this seat, and now we are stuck with him anyhow because no one ran against him.

In the end, am I scared of Brock Turner and people like him? Yes. I live every day of my life with the possibility of being raped in the back of my mind. Maybe that's because I watch too much crime drama. Maybe it's because I am friends with too many in law enforcement who see this on a regular basis. Maybe it's because I pay too much attention to what is happening on my social media feeds and in the news. But there is not a day when I leave the house without thinking "I hope no one decides I should be their next victim." I don't let it rule my life, but I would be lying if I said it wasn't there. But as a young female who is at high risk for sexual assault simply because I exist, Judge Aaron Persky is the one who really scares me because his decisions in this case will ultimately let a rapist walk free. His decisions will ultimately convince other victims that there is no point in coming forward because justice will not be done, and that lack of reporting will ultimately lead to even more rapists walking free because they were never caught to begin with.

The one highlight to this whole situation? The whole world now knows this asshat rapist's name. Is it terrible that he is getting his own twisted sort of fame out of this? Yes. But will he ever get any "action" again? Let's hope not.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, call 1-(800)-656-4673. If you do not want to speak out loud about it yet, there is an online hotline as well at https://hotline.rainn.org/online/terms-of-service..... I know that it is a terrible situation to be in, and it may seem like you don't have a lot of support, but the only way to even start tackling this issue is to report it. And I know its small, but you have my support.