Blaming the Victim

The boldness with which white male plutocracy is playing out between Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh leaves a disheartening note. Be it sexual assault, sexism, class-ism, ageism, racism or any of the plethora of other issues that cultivate and perpetuate the marginalization of a person or groups - the Ford-Kavanaugh story is a stark example of how treacherous a fight one has against a social construct that is enforced by a predominantly white, male plutocracy.  Against this engine, even a Caucasian woman with a doctoral degree - had it not been for her assertive tenacity to be heard - Dr. Ford would be bullied and threatened into silence. How would a Black woman, doubly marginalized fare within this set of circumstances?

Some have asked, why if Dr. Ford was assaulted at age fifteen had she not come forward then? One only need to look at the scrutiny that Dr. Ford has had to endure; the death threats, her credibility, and character questioned without due process - now imagine being fifteen-years-old. The why is clear. We are a blame-the-victim society that bullies the disadvantage into silence to protect and preserve the status quo.  

Observing what Dr. Ford has had to go through to prove that her voice matters sends a clear message to victims of sexual assault who suffer in silence that many more will suffer, if, as a society, we do not face our social and moral dysfunction and corruption.  Whether or not we believe Dr. Ford's claim of sexual assault, she, at the very least deserves the benefit of doubt enough to conduct a thorough FBI investigation. It is appalling that she has been threatened, ridiculed and made into a social pariah by certain groups for speaking out. That is the real travesty. This is not a man or woman issue - Republican or Democrat - we should all be outraged when an attempt is made to disregard and silence anyone - particularly without due process.