We know sexual assault is wrong. We know we should believe the victims. We know we shouldn't let the abuser get away without a punishment.

Yet, here we are, Brett Kavanaugh has sworn as a Supreme Court Justice after Catherine Basley Ford's testimony and an "attempted" FBI investigation for the allegation of sexual abuse. And all of this wasn't enough to disqualify him from the highest level of the judiciary system in our country.

So if we understand that sexual assault is wrong in the first place, how do we end up in these situations that end up on a national level? I personally believe that the concept of sexual assault is oversimplified. It cannot be explained thoroughly with a mandatory health module or an awkward, educational performance about sex and consent.

Each program teaches college students about sexual assault covers the important basics like what constitutes consent and how to prevent sexual assault to a large population. But after all of that, there is still rape on college campuses and the workplace.

Sexual violence is an umbrella term used to describe coerced sexual contact. This includes harassment, stalking, revenge porn, attempted rape, unwanted groping, and rape.

According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC), "1/3 women and 1/6 men experience some form of sexual violence in their lifetime." This statistic is alarming. This means someone you know was a victim and had their bodies violated. It is so common, so why are we turning a blind eye?

Because it happens behind closed doors? It's none of our business? What do we say when we realize it's too late?

Victims of sexual assault used to hide their stories, ashamed of themselves. Movements like #MeToo, #TimesUp, and #IBelieveHer are giving women the strength to reclaim their voices and to tell their stories. However, they are mostly centered around women assaulted by men.

This is where it gets more complicated.

If you look back at the statistic, men are also victims of sexual violence. Women are also abusers. We have to widen our perspective and put away the stigma that guys are supposed to be strong and not even be in these situations in the first place.

With power comes abuse, no matter where it is. If Todd had too much to drink at a party and a girl he danced with brings him back to his room, she has more control to manipulate him.

Politics aside, it is our responsibility as human beings to understand relationship qualities like personal boundaries and respect for others regardless of race, age, or gender.

We have to understand these individual values in ourselves before we can make a change in our communities. With this understanding of basic morals, we will be able to recognize sexual violence is a crime that needs to be handled with, so it's not ignored on a national stage.

How we deal with sexual assault determines who we are as people and a society. Will we "let it slide" and continue to neglect the victims and survivors who need their voices to be heard or will stand with them and enforce care and respect for each other?