Brock Turner recently served only 3 months in county jail for 3 felonies. This is unacceptable, and has re-started a national conversation about rape and sexual assault that never should've stopped. The excuses that rapists and violent offenders make for their actions are bad, but the fact that our society doesn't recognize this is far worse.
1. "She was dressed like a slut."
Outfits can't talk. Clothing says absolutely nothing about who someone is as a person, or their ability to refuse to consent. Perceived stereotypes put forth by our society about how women and girls dress, and choose to present themselves is never enough of a reason to turn someone's life upside down.
2. "I was drunk."
Yes, you were drunk. She was too. She can't consent if she's drunk, and if you're too drunk to consent, you're too drunk to have sex. It wouldn't be that great anyway.
3. "She said no, but it wasn't a hard no."
Soo... What counts as a "hard no"? Was it a "hard no" when you told her to come with you and she didn't want to? Was it a "hard no" when you shoved her up against the counter and she tried to push you away? Was it a "hard no" when you reached to lock the door and she tried to open it instead? What's a "hard no"?
4. "She made it up."
There is common belief among a lot of people that falsely reported sexual assault is a widespread problem. First of all, she (or he) probably didn't make it up, because why would you make something up that will affect you in one way another for the rest of your life? Second of all, you should worry about the woman (or man) you have hurt, instead of worrying about the jail time you may or may not serve for it.
5. "She was a tease."
Sorry, but that's not how consent works. People are allowed to change their minds, and she doesn't owe you anything. You need to accept that. Because you are not entitled to her, no matter what others may tell you.
6. "She should've known what she was getting herself into."
Just because she put enough trust in you to let you drive her back home, to walk back with you from a party, doesn't mean she meant anything by it, and you don't get to assume that. I bet she would wish she "knew what she was getting herself into" after you assaulted her. But that's not on her, that's all on you for not having the decency to respect her enough to listen to her tell you "No."
