Over and over again I have read the news reports and witness accounts of the Stanford rape violence. I have read over the victims powerful letter to her attacker. I have shed tears for her loss of self-worth and identity. I have shed tears over the fact that this is common in the news. I have shed tears for the women in my life and myself.
This violent theft of a woman and her rights has brought myself and many down to emotions of disgust, anger and misery. How has the world turned to "Make sure you never walk home alone sweetie" and "Don't drink too much, you won't be able to protect yourself" rather than "No means no" and "If she's unconscious, DON'T TOUCH HER" and "Treat a woman with respect." When I was probably in elementary school, my mom would always tell me to never put a drink down when I'm out with friends because someone could slip something into my drink. What kind of world do we live in where a young girl knows how to NOT get herself raped and boys don't know better to not rape.
Adding to the barbaric nature of the case, the media and news have seemed to do everything in their power to make him the center of attention. I refuse to say his name in this article because he does not deserve the time of day and or even the utterance of his name on my lips.
It absolutely astounds me that everywhere I turn, his face is splashed over every news article and tv screen. How do you think that feels to the beautiful woman who withstood his violence; to the families and friends involved; to all the other women that have experienced the same tragic ordeal? It is disgusting to see him being the main person of this case. How about we pay more attention to the amazing 23-year-old woman who, everyday, will deal with the consequences of his actions.
As a 21-year-old woman in this world, all I would like to ask is that you take pictures of a convicted rapist off of my tv screen and start preventing these things from happening. The key word here is prevention; not "cleaning up." For the sake of this woman, myself and every other woman in this world, please.
