We live in a society which not only facilitates the abuse and assault of women but which also demands that they “prove it” by giving the intimate details of their trauma to courtrooms full of strangers (in some cases televised for the entire world)? That’s no kind of due process, it’s barbarity
And knowing what we do about trauma and the brain/body, and retraumatization, the fact that the process is still set up this way tells us that at best the justice system is indifferent to women’s emotional and physical health, and at worst it’s designed to punish them for telling the truth about men
i guess the one thing i’ve taken away from the kavanaugh hearing is that every woman has a story. watching dr ford talk was terrible since her pain- and the constancy of it- is clear, but talking about it later with friends, with coworkers, it brings out your own horrors.
my coworker in her fifties told me about a boy in her high school who forcibly undressed her in the backseat of a car as another boy drove her home. her shirt was unbuttoned the entire way down, her bra out and pants unzipped, and she didn’t notice until after she’d run inside her home when the car stopped. i told her about my ex who i had to knee in the stomach once when he was drunk out of his mind and refused to take no for an answer. i told her how i worry about his current girlfriend.
i dated that boy for another two months. my coworker still talked to both guys the following monday at school like nothing happened. her husband thinks dr ford is lying and out to ruin a man’s career.
believe women. believe survivors. having a story shouldn’t be the goddamn norm.
wupacing 