Kavanaugh confirmation, another setback for women

By Jessica Ava Lange, Online Editor

Kavanaugh’s appointment to the Supreme Court is another sign that little has changed since 1991.

After a five-day Senate battle and a straw FBI investigation, Supreme Court Justice Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation is a slap in the face to sexual assault victims as history repeats itself.

Dr. Christine Blasey Ford made a moving and emotional statement in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee sharing her sexual assault at the hands of Kavanaugh.  His victory is a reflection of how sexual assault victims are disregarded today.  Ford was clearly telling the truth based on her traumatic retelling of that day and her repeated statement that she was 100 percent certain that Kavanaugh was the person who forced himself on her.

“Her willingness to share her story in spite of them revealing one of the most painful and traumatic events, her conviction, becomes her credibility,” according to the Vogue article, “Dr. Christine Blasey Ford is a Whistle-Blower.”

Kavanaugh, on the other hand, expressed visible anger and radical bias claiming that Ford’s allegations were a political scheme to seek revenge for the Clintons.  His fury reached a peak when he stated that he felt attacked by Democrats.  The difference in tone between the two individuals was drastic.

Now a man who has been accused of assaulting several women will be sitting on the nation’s highest court making decision about the welfare of women.

Even President Trump, who nominated Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court, bragged in a recording that he grabbed women “by the pussy,” and because we live in a rape culture, men like Trump and Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh have gotten away with it.

It was challenging not to compare the current situation with Anita Hill’s Senate Judiciary Committee testimony against Clarence Thomas 27 years ago.  It is important events like this are put to an end.

If men continue this behavior, women need to put a stop to it.

“Every 98 seconds someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted,” according to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network.

According to RAINN, there are many steps that can be made to prevent sexual assault.  Keep friends safe when a situation is uncomfortable by intervening.  Create distractions to provide a chance for an at risk person to find a safe place.  Ask people directly if they are in trouble and never leave a drink unattended or be in an environment where no one knows your whereabouts.

Ford deserves more and women deserve more.  Voices will not be silenced if people take a fraction of Ford’s courage to step up.

To speak with someone who is trained to help, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673) or chat online at online.rainn.org