By Lizzy Stocks
[Warning: This article discusses sexual assault.]
The #MeToo era is still on the rise as Christine Blasey Ford, a psychology professor, accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her at a high-school party 36 years ago.
For many, Blasey’s allegation comes as a deceitful plot by the Democrats to damage Kavanaugh’s nomination by delaying the Senate Judiciary Committee’s vote for as long as possible. For others, the allegation comes during a crucial time in American history, as a Kavanaugh confirmation could greatly impact women’s rights – specifically the right to choose – for years and years to come.
Not only that, but Blasey’s accusations against Kavanaugh have actually left many wondering if a decades-old allegation is even enough basis to deem him unfit for the Supreme Court – as if a man’s previous decision to profoundly disrespect a woman’s body would have no bearing on his potential to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Discussing on Fox News whether or not high-school misconduct is grounds for future consequence, Ari Fleischer, former George W. Bush press secretary, asked, “Should that deny us chances later in life? Even for [a] Supreme Court job, a presidency of the United States, or you name it?”
Do I have to spell it out for you?
Y – E – S.
Plain and simple.
When concerning assault and/or rape, one’s lawlessness in high school should certainly deny them chances later in life, especially regarding the presidency or a lifetime appointment on the Supreme Court.
Instances of juvenile sexual assault are chalked up to the excuse, “Boys will be boys,” all too often.
If the phrase, “Boys will be boys,” carries the implication that attempted rape is just another part of boyhood shenanigans, then the “men” these boys become should have to the pay the ultimate price later in life when and if their victims bravely come forward.
Time and time again we’ve seen young men get away with their actions simply because of their age. Take Rapist Brock Turner, for example. Rapist Brock Turner, then 19, was caught brutally raping an unconscious woman behind at a dumpster at Stanford University, and his father seriously thought a prison sentence and lifetime conviction for rape was a “steep price to pay for 20 minutes of action.”
Judge Aaron Persky apparently agreed, as Rapist Brock Turner was only sentenced to six months in prison – and served a mere three – because Persky felt a harsher sentence would have a “severe impact” on the rest of his life.
That’s the point.
Losing confirmation as the next Supreme Court Justice just may be Kavanaugh’s steep price to pay for his actions 36 years ago.
It’s time our society stops catering to accused men and starts taking abused women seriously. Boys can be boys, but it doesn’t have to be at the expense of girls being girls.