September 29th, 2018 - Karol Para
Unless you have been living under a rock and avoiding news completely for the past couple of days (which I mean I don't blame you for wanting to do anything with modern media) you have probably heard about the Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh sexual assault allegation put forth by Prof.
Christine Blasey Ford. These allegations have led for there to be a hearing with the two parties in the United States Senate. But this hearing has shed light on two issues that are present in our society. One of these issues is the way that sexual assault victims are treated in the court of law, and how their portrayal can change the public's opinion completely.
Ever since Ford has accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her at a high school party, "media coverage has focused heavily on Ford's memories" according to the news outlet VOX. Ford has admitted that she is not able to remember details about the event, like where it happened or how she ended up going home afterward. The fact that her memory is incomplete has been used by the Senators to make her seem almost delusional and discredited. But one thing that the Senators have not thought of, is putting themselves in the shoes of Ford. Professor Mary Koss, a sexual assault scholar at the University of Arizona did an interview with VOX where she states that "you tend to focus when you are in a traumatizing situation [Like sexual assult]. There are certain parts that you remember better and other parts that your brain said "that's peripheral I gotta focus on staying alive" (4:09-4-19). We all have been in traumatizing situations, and when they do happen this exact same "focus" happens, just as described by Prof. Koss. Ford might not be able to remember the layout of the room or whose home she was in, but she does remember the "uproarious laughter" she heard between Kavanaugh and another friend of his while she was being assaulted.
Writing this, personally, I can not comprehend how disgusting and horrible human beings can be, and how they can do such a thing as sexual assault and later portray the victim as someone delusional only to save their career. The worst part is, that this isn't the first time that such matter has happened in the United States Senate. CNN writes, "The United States had experienced a similar moment 27 years ago...when Anita Hill was questioned by an all-male panel on her allegations of sexual harassment by Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas". Thomas referred to the incomplete memories of Hill as a "circus", and the members of the panel would go on to say that Hill should be discredited. This would all lead to the public favoring Thomas and supporting him, resulting in his nomination as a supreme court judge. Kavanaugh is now saying the same things, going on to say that this whole matter is a "circus". Oh, how history likes to repeat itself.
Drifting away from the situation a bit, let's see what high school students, that are currently experiencing these parties and sexual assault have to say about how women can be ridiculed in front of the American people and leave her standing alone, with no one but herself. In an interview with High School Activist Georgia Fry, she goes on to question "Why do women have to relive the most disgusting and terrifying moment of there lives, only to be ridiculed and degraded and mocked?". She goes on to address Kavanaugh and the United States President Donald Trump saying that they should stop ruining the lives of people that they don't know anything about and rather give them a fair trial in a democratic government. Being a high school student myself, I can say with confidence that sexual assault is a big issue that is not being addressed. And the main reason that it is not being addressed is that when it is, women are ridiculed and have to relive a horrible part of there lives again, and again, and again, going from councilor to dean to therapists resaying the story. High School students are the future supreme court nominees, and they are the future senators. If high school students now can't address their issues because of fear of being treated as second-class citizens and put into the same category and mentally delusional people, then how can we ever find ourselves in a truly democratic state where everyone is equal?
If you have been sexually assaulted, or need help with anything really, we recommend you use the https://www.crisistextline.org/ Talk to someone, over text, or in real life. Seek help, and don't be afraid to talk about what happened to you. CreatorCo and our community will always stand here with you!
