Transitioning Times

I'm disheartened to see so many cases of sexual assault by people in power, though I'm not surprised one bit. Harvey Weinstein, Ben Affleck, Dr. Larry Nassar, Bill O’Reilly, Steven Seagal, R. Kelly, and even former president George H. W. Bush, along with several others, have recently been accused of sexual assault or harassment. This is our society; it is so deeply rooted in us. We let rape jokes slide, demean and dehumanize women, don’t hold perpetrators accountable, and blame victims for their assault. We teach people how not to get assaulted/raped, but we don't teach people to not rape. (Here’s a video put together by Huffington Post about many of the allegations that have come out following the allegations against Harvey Weinstein: https://www.facebook.com/HuffPost/videos/544774159200069/ ) Sexual assault and harassment are about power and control, and when perpetrators have additional power due to their position in society or industry, it is bound to be a bree...

Domestic violence and sexual assault are difficult topics to discuss. In today's society, there seems to be a stigma that goes along with these two issues, a stigma that unfortunately incorporates victim blaming.  Victim blaming is when the victim of a crime is held solely or partially responsible for the wrongful act done upon them. A recent example of victim blaming happened in the People v. Turner case. Brock Turner blamed college party culture and consumption of alcohol for a sexual assault he initiated rather than taking responsibility for the horrendous crime he committed. Turner, a former Stanford University student-athlete, sexually assaulted an intoxicated, unconscious woman behind a dumpster, whom he met at a house party. Turners’ defense attorney contributed to the victim-blaming when his way of defending this case was to point the finger at the victim and fixate on how much she drank on the evening of the sexual assault. Victims of sexual assault, more times t...

Caution:   Sexually explicit content Currently, there is a controversy surrounding a recently released video of a young woman being sexually assaulted by a young man on the street.   The controversy is whether this woman is a “real victim” or not.   (There’s also additional controversy about the identity of the victim.)   This conversation, about “real” rape, and “real” victims has gone on and on and although I will add my outcry and frustration, I cannot add a different perspective.   Besides to say that rape is rape and victims are victims, until they become survivors.   Do we really need to compare and rate levels of trauma and when abuse is “bad enough”? Instead, I would like to comment on the outcries that this woman is not being sexually assaulted, and in my opinion, a lot of this comes from the fact that this sexual assault does not include vaginal intercourse through penetration by a penis.   There is a notion that digital pe...

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_ news/2013/08/28/20235700- montana-judge-defends- decision-to-sentence-teacher- to-just-30-days-for-sex-with- 14-year-old How is it that we are still blaming victims, students, CHILDREN for their rape? This judge decided that a 14 year old held the same knowledge/experience/power as a teacher to decide to engage in a "consensual" relationship, and therefore, the teacher was ordered to serve 30 days. In today's FFF, I ask when will enough be enough?! Too many young women are dying in light of bullying, sexual harassment, and the after-effects of rape.

This week, there was an outcry based upon ads from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board , encouraging people to “Control Tonight.”  There have been many articles and arguments about the victim-blaming that the PLCB engaged in.  I believe many of these writers are more eloquent than I, and encourage you to read those articles.  However, I wanted to add my voice because of the anger that I experienced when I visited www.controltonight.com .  Upon entrance to the website, you are taken to an interactive scenario, starting with the “end” of the night, specifically, the consequences that the individual or friend faced due to imbibing.  This screen said:   "Sexual Assault: That’s what Anne’s attorney will call it a month from now. She said no, but he kept going. And now, your friend is on his bathroom floor, bruised and victimized.”   The website allows the user to “See how you could have prevented this.”   As a diligent web-...