Editor’s note: This commentary is by Peggy W. Larson, of Williston, a veterinarian and lawyer who has spoken and consulted widely about animal abuse. She was Vermont state veterinarian and veterinary medical officer for the USDA in the 1980s as well as a former prosecutor in St. Albans.
[U]nwanted sexual advances and rape have been the topic of conversation recently as we were all glued to radio and TV to watch the drama of the Senate hearings on the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court unfold. Both Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and Kavanaugh emphatically stated their positions.
One question that arose was why Dr. Ford did not report the sexual assault when it happened? Why do most victims of sexual assault avoid reporting this crime?
I discussed this issue with eight educated female friends/acquaintances, all of whom had experienced unwanted sexual behavior and two had been raped. Needless to say, we were shocked to learn about their rapes. Fortunately, now women are becoming more willing to talk about their horrific experiences because these experiences are so common. None of my friends reported these crimes to the police. Why? Because they felt that they would be blamed for causing the sexual assaults. And no one would believe them. They would be called “sluts” or worse. They would be ridiculed. So they internalized their trauma which stays with them to this day. As does the psychological damage.
As a former Vermont prosecutor, I certainly can confirm their concerns. Rapists do not serve adequate sentences. As an example, recently a Vermont man who raped an 83-year-old woman with dementia received a 15 month jail sentence. Every 98 seconds, sexual assault happens. Every eight minutes, a child is sexually assaulted. Only six out of 1,000 perpetrators end up in prison. Where is the justice system? Out to lunch?
Tens of thousands of rape kits are never analyzed. So the victim never gets justice. What kind of message is this to the rape victim?
After watching the Ford/Kavanaugh hearing, a huge number of women have come forward to reveal their sexual assault experiences. This is a positive reaction. Women will no longer tolerate sexual abuse. The judicial system and the political system had better be paying attention.