Jessica+P’s+Final+AmEx+2015+Speech


 * Rape Culture - Victim Blaming **

I was contemplating on whether I should give a speech on a light yet passionate topic for me, such as music or art, things that I greatly enjoy and consider a huge part of my life. I didn't want to discuss such a heavy topic, I wanted to deliver something fun and easy; But after maybe hours and seeing a few speeches from you guys, I came to realize that the whole point of this final was to talk about something that I devotedly want to see change in America, and it's okay to talk about a topic that might be considered heavy. I am nervous and a bit scared to talk about such a topic, but here I am now about to deliver my speech on Rape Culture.

The definition of ¨Rape Culture¨ changes throughout the years, but generally it is defined as and was originated to identify the way that society blames victims of sexual assault for the incident. Rape culture consists of jokes, music, advertisements, imagery, and even laws. Of course it also includes sexual remarks and touching. These actions are carried out to imply ¨a complex set of beliefs that encourage male sexual aggression and supports violence against women. It is a society where violence is seen as sexy and sexuality as violent¨, it ¨condones physical and emotional terrorism against women as the norm¨. Now I don't know about you but to me this is disgusting, unfair, completely wrong. This set of beliefs is disturbing and sexist, how can rape and harassment be thought of as ¨the norm¨, an ¨okay¨ thing; but what even further bothers me is the fact that all this is put on the victim, the VICTIM is blamed. Incase you're not sure of the definition of a victim, a victim is ¨a person harmed, injured, or killed as a result of a crime, accident, etc¨ and ¨a person who is tricked or duped.¨ It is not the victim's fault, they are a VICTIM.

According to a national survey shown in a UK news article, a quarter of the people believe that if a female is wearing ¨provocative¨ clothing, and/or was drinking, she is partly to blame and should be held responsible for the attack. Others said that a women is to blame simply for failing to say no or for keeping quiet. Quoting what was written in the news ¨women who flirt, get drunk, or wear sexy clothes are asking to be raped, according to the shocking survey¨. Rape is sexual assault without a person's consent. How is someone asking to be raped without giving consent?!

Okay so you might be thinking, yes this isn't right or okay, but it's just what some people think. Its not like it is supported or seen as something normal by the law. You are wrong. Yes, you have the right to go to court and try to get justice from being a victim of sexual assault. Yes, you will be heard out and get a chance to speak about it in the presence of a judge. Yes there is a chance that the rapist will be put behind bars and have to pay time for hurting someone. But that chance is very slight. On multiple websites I have read that ¨97 out of 100 rapists receive no punishment¨, ¨97% of rapists don't spend a day in jail¨, and there are about 50,000 rapes each year with only about 600 rapists sent to jail. This angers me deeply, and in case you don't believe that this is true I have a personal story. No, I was not raped, and for that I am extremely thankful, but I was sexually harassed. By this I mean that I was told sexual remarks and was sexually touched, again without my consent. From elementary to seventh grade, I was sexually harassed by my aunt's husband, starting off at a young age, around 6 or 7, first grade. I did not understand what was going on and it started off with little things that soon impacted my life hugely. It was so uncomfortable even as a child, and I would push away but he would force his hold. I wanted to cry and he would always tell me to not tell anyone, that he was just showing his love for his niece. I remained quiet for so many years not because I was okay with it but because I was frightened. I was scared that people wouldn't believe me, I was scared that he would hurt me more for speaking out, I was scared because I didn't understand why. Finally in seventh grade I couldn't take it any longer as things were intensifying, and I seeked for help. And shockingly for me, the first thing that I was asked when I told everything that happened for so long was, "did you do something to provoke him?" This hurt me so much. I felt as if I was in a room with closed doors and no one was willing to open a door and help. I felt so trapped. I said of course I didn't?! And the person proceeded to put the blame on me by literally saying that it was my fault for keeping quiet for so long, almost yelling at me. I was angry and exhausted, overwhelmed. By law he would have to spend 25 years in prison for sexual harassment of a minor. Long story short, he never spent a day in jail, he never suffered any consequences, and my aunt remains with him.

This is unfair and to further let you know how the law does not really protect these victims I would like you to know that if a case consists of a women being raped by her husband, it is seen as less important at court and the judge actually considers the clothing that the victim was wearing the day that they were assaulted as evidence to prove the rapist guilty or not, and in many occasions the victim is claimed guilty. What? That's outrageous.

Rape does not only affect a victim physically, but socially, mentally and emotionally. After everything that happened, I did consider taking my life, I am insecure and afraid of any men who have any features that remind me of him. I can't look strangers or even people that I know in the eye, feeling as if somehow they'll know and judge me or blame me, isolate me. I can't even shake a male adult's hand or make physical contact and I have been told by so many people that this is rude of me, but I don't mean to be rude, I'm just scared. I've remained damaged. And this is the case for many. Many victims of rape or sexual harassment receive therapy or become depressive, they can develop self blame as I did and sometimes still do (since I was treated as if it was my fault)-if only I had done something differently..-or suffer from a rape trauma syndrome. These people suffer their whole life, if they're not one of the 13 percent who commit suicide.

I want to grow up in an America where the victim is not blamed. Where we shouldn't have to raise our daughters to be cautious of men, but teach our sons to be respectful. I want to grow up and see an America where sexual assault is not "okay" or the "norm". Where people won't assume or base their actions on someone's clothing. I want us to take this into account and treat this issue with higher importance. And again, no matter the situation, please don't EVER blame a victim. Thank you.

http://www.wavaw.ca/what-is-rape-culture/ http://www.scholarship.law.duke.edu http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/rpt/2008-R-0619.htm