The Reality for Women in America

Meredith Chaffin
Sep 26, 2018
3 min read

Over the course of the supreme court nomination and voting process, I have kept myself in the loop, but I haven’t said much publicly. That changes now.

Just a few hours ago, news broke that another woman, not another accuser, but another woman has shared her story of being gang-raped by a group of men, one of which was Kavanaugh. I refuse to call Julie Swetnick just another “accuser.” Julie Swetnick is a person. She is a Woman. She was raped by Supreme court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. She isn’t the only one.

Dr. Christine Blasey Ford was the first to come out with her experience of being raped by Kavanaugh. Deborah Ramirez was next. Now, Julie Swetnick. These women are putting their careers, their families, their relationships, and their literal lives on the line to further prove why this monster of a man should not receive a lifetime appointment to the Supreme court.

Women in the United States and women across the world are being raped and sexually assaulted daily. We need to believe them.

The first time that I ever experienced sexual harassment, I was 11. I was walking down the street with a family member, on my way to a play. It was for my birthday.

The first time I was sexually assaulted, I was 15. He was 18. We were in class. People watched and did nothing. It was my second week at that school. After reporting him, I was threatened and followed around the school, around the campus, and eventually around my hometown. An environment that was once comfortable and positive became full of fear and anxiety. I couldn't go to class without others walking me there.

My freshman year in college, an unwanted male stuck his hands down my pants in front of four other people. Repeatedly. For over 30 minutes straight. They just laughed and texted each other about it. No interference. No help.

Later that year, I was harassed, groped, followed, numerous times- all in public. People watched and all brushed it off.

This is the reality that women face. Rape and assault is the reality for women in America.

I know dozens of friends, mentors, family members, former teachers, and many other women that have been raped. Some occurred when they were children, some as adults, some were raped once, others were raped repeatedly. Nothing has ever been done to help or protect these women after the fact. Nothing was ever done to punish the men responsible.

1 in 4 college women will be raped while in their 4 undergraduate years. 9 out of 10 times, it will not be the rapists first time committing this crime. This is the reality for women in America.

I am a sophomore in college and I can’t walk home by myself at night without calling someone the entire way home to make sure that if something happens to me, they hear it.

My friends and I have to track each other across town, so if anyone veers off course or doesn’t hit the “safe” button, we know to call the police.

I am so afraid completely and utterly afraid that I will be raped one day. The odds are not in my favor. It almost seems inevitable. I try to practice memorizing distinctive markers on people that cat call me or people that get too close to me, just incase I have to do the same to my attacker.

That will make the police statement easier right? Maybe not, considering that women raped in America are not believed. America, a place of freedom, a place of opportunity, a place to live a great life, right?

How can America be a place of freedom and opportunity if women cannot feel safe, just because of the body parts that they were born with? How can this country be a place for freedom and opportunity if women are raped daily, repeatedly, and are blamed for causing their own assaulter to assault them? How can America be a place for freedom and opportunity if a known rapist is appointed to the Supreme Court of the United States, easily, and by the leadership of a political party that claims to be “the party of family values?”

Hiding, disregarding, or downplaying the constant raping and assaulting and harassing of 50% of the population does not scream “family values” to me. Boys can still be boys, without raping women. Sexual assault should not be normal. Rapists should not be defended.

I believe Dr. Blasey Ford. I believe Deborah Ramirez. I believe Julie Swetnick. You should too. Women should not be taught that assault just happens and that they should suck it up, paint on a smile, and move on.

Enough is enough.

Believe survivors and stop Brett Kavanaugh.