By now, you should know who Brock Turner is. If you don't, I'll try to get you up to speed. Brock Turner is a rapist who also happens to be a swimmer at Stanford University. Other media outlets have stated that he is a student athlete who happened to commit a rape, but let's not get the facts confused. Committing a rape makes you a rapist.
Recently, a judge sentenced Turner to six months in prison, and said he could potentially get out in three, as a long sentence would have a severe impact on his future. (As if being a rapist shouldn't impact your future?) The case went viral on social media after the decision was made, with everyone weighing in with their opinions. Letters written by the victim and Turner's father have surfaced over the past week, sparking both sympathy and outrage. Sympathy for the victim, and outrage toward Turner and his father, who wrote in a letter that his son should not have to pay a steep price for "less than twenty minutes of action." Turner has said he never wants to drink alcohol or be in situations with alcohol again, but has failed to apologize for the sexual assault. This situation is not about the college party and drinking culture, which Turner seems to think is the problem. The problem is that he committed a rape. Clearly, people have reason to be angered by this situation.
Now, I am not one to typically share my opinion on current events on the internet where everyone can see it. The other day though, I overheard a conversation and it sparked something in me, and I knew I had to say something. I was walking down the hall at my university and I heard a conversation between a couple of boys. They were talking about Brock Turner and the victim of his assault. I want to make it clear that I did not hear the whole conversation, as I was just passing by on my way to work. What I did hear, however, made me realize what the problem is.
"Why would you rape someone behind a dumpster? That's so stupid."
It was the way this was said that really irked me. It wasn't "why would you rape someone? That's so stupid." It was the addition of "behind a dumpster" that got me. As if implying that raping someone in a different place would not be stupid. Let's get this straight: Any rape is more than stupid. It is vile, vulgar, and just plain horrible. It is completely and utterly wrong that someone would take the dignity and autonomy of another person away like that.
Here is what I think the problem is: Our culture presents women as sexual objects, and that is why some people seem to think rape isn't such a big deal. This needs to change. We, as a society, need to teach men and women that rape is not okay (believe it or not, males can be victims of rape as well). There is a viral Tumblr post that I think says this best. "There is only sex or rape." Sex is consensual and rape is not. This is what people need to understand.
So, teach people that rape is never okay. Teach people that the only thing that makes sex okay is consent. Teach people this, so that no one else has to worry that they will be raped if they have a little too much to drink at a college party.
