Brock Turner: A name that has become nearly as infamous as the dispute over his mugshot for raping an unconscious woman back in January 2015. Brock Turner took advantage of a young woman who could not defend herself. This case has been active and recently became public in May of 2016, where just a few weeks later in June, Turner, 20, was given his prison sentence by Judge Aaron Persky. A mere six months for the sexual assault (not rape), as well as the emotional and physical trauma and abuse Turner inflicted on the victim, who has chosen to remain anonymous to the public. As of June 9th, 2016 this rapist will only serve three months behind bars due "a clean disciplinary record." Media outlets have stretched to depict Turner as an "all American boy next door," and I personally am fed up.
You see, the more excuses that are created for Turner, the more this country is perpetuating rape culture and vastly ignoring the reality of this and all rape/abuse situations. Rape culture is the normalization and glamorizing of sexual violence and is presented through using misogynistic (hate, mistrust or mistreatment of women) language,and the objectification of women's bodies. We see this culture on a near daily basis in music videos, television shows, movies, and now especially in the news regarding the Turner rape case. Many reports, and an even more alarming number of people in the public, tend to blame the victim by arguing that she should not have allowed herself to be put in this situation, turning this awful event into something that is her fault when it simply is not. It does not matter how she was dressed, it does not matter how intoxicated she was (something news outlets love to mention), what matters is that this young woman was raped, and her rapist is receiving sympathy and support.
Reports on this case across the board have remarkably included his swim records, his Olympic aspirations, and how badly a stricter sentence would have impacted his life. By including these topics, the media is suggesting that these aspects of Turner's life hold more significant than the damage and pain he inflicted unto a helpless girl. How sickening is that? A rewarding and "promising" life is more important than his actions? More important than what she has to say to her abuser? Is this really how this country has begun to support rapists?
Brock Turner refused to admit he assaulted a woman, and was reluctant in his shallow apology. He deflects the attention of his actions by placing blame on his "party life" and drinking habits. Rape is rape regardless of where a rapist places blame. I wonder, why is it OK for Brock Allan Turner to be "drunk enough" to rape a woman? Why was it that because he was drunk, he is able to excuse his actions with a three month jail sentence, while this woman is being persecuted for ingesting alcohol and "allowing herself" to be raped because she gave him a back rub while inebriated? How can he not be held responsible for rape because he was too drunk, but be sober enough to recall his actions?
Brock Turner, his lawyers, the judge, and the media have all taken advantage of both the victim and of Turner's white privilege. Headlines calling Turner "baby-faced" and " All American" have been plastered on social networks and news reports. Judge Aaron Persky has turned a blind eye to the justice system and convicted him to six months for sexual assault, not rape. The key difference here is that rape, by definition in some state statute books, requires the use of threat or force while sexual assault is used to refer any sexual act that occurs without consent.
Lets be real, if this case had been presented with a minority as the rapist, many would be calling for his immediate incarceration. Take for example Cory Batey, a 19-year-old student athlete at Vanderbilt who also raped an unconscious woman. In April of 2016, Batey was convicted on three felony counts including aggravated rape, and two counts of aggravated sexual assault. Batey immediately began his mandatory minimum sentence of at least 15 years in prison. Both Batey and Turner's cases had ample evidence and eyewitness accounts. Both abused and raped unconscious victims, why are their sentences so different?
It does not matter that Brock Turner's life will never be the same. It does not matter that he can no longer drink alcohol without being reminded of what he did, or that he is not his "happy go lucky self" as his father so lamely put it. Brock Turner's victim will be facing much more pain to deal with than he will for the three months he will spend in a county jail. She will have to endure so much more while Turner will be walking around a free man by the end of summer.
