Edit desk: Change the culture

Wascar Ramirez

About a month ago, Christine Blasey Ford, a professor at Palo Alto University, publically came forward with her story regarding Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulting her during a house party in the early 1980s.

Teary-eyed, Ford recounted the story for the world to hear.

“I was pushed on the bed, and Brett got on top of me. He began running his hands over my body and grinding into me,” she said in her testimony. “I yelled, hoping someone downstairs might hear me.”

I knew how upsetting watching Ford’s testimony and Kavanaugh’s responses would be for me, so I stayed off the internet and away from the TV, continuing to study for the exams I had at the time. I hoped that Americans in power would listen to Ford, but I expected too much of older, white men as the Senate narrowly confirmed him at the beginning of this month.

Considering all the movements and marches that have been occurring over the past few years, I naively hoped that Kavanaugh couldn’t possibly be confirmed. And to my dismay, he was. As much as I had hoped for a better outcome, I unfortunately was not surprised as this is our current culture — sexual assault and misogyny are norms.

In 2016, Donald Trump was elected President, the highest office in the United States, despite his treatment of women being widely broadcasted. “Grab them by the pussy” is not something the President of the U.S., nor anyone, should be saying. In line with Trump, Kavanaugh gained an Ivy League education and now is a Supreme Court Justice, even after being accused and displaying behavior that would be worrying of a nominee.

Kavanaugh’s confirmation, and Trump’s election, tell the country two things: people can do as they please with no repercussions and survivors do not matter.

These behaviors were brushed away by too many people, further deepening our misogynistic culture as more people believe these behaviors are acceptable. It’s not okay to touch someone without their permission. It’s not okay to talk about people sexually without their permission.

Consent is an incredibly easy concept to grasp when applied to everything but sex it seems. It’s common courtesy to ask to borrow another’s property or to pet a stranger’s dog on the street, but there’s a disconnect when it comes to asking for consent during sex.

The ‘tea consent’ video shows this perfectly. If someone doesn’t want tea would you force it down their throat? No. If someone doesn’t want to engage in any sexual activity with you, would you force them?

No one should have to go through what Ford experienced, yet many people do. The national average is 25 percent of college women and up to 15 percent of college men experiencing sexual assault. Looking at Lehigh as an example, we have an undergraduate population of 5,075, with 55 percent identifying as male and 45 percent identifying as female.

These statistics applied to our student population equate to about 989 Lehigh undergraduates being assaulted. That number is potentially higher considering members of the LGBT community experience higher rates of assault. For example, 61.1 percent of bisexual women and 37.3 percent of bisexual men will experience some type of gender violence compared to 35 percent and 29 percent of heterosexual women and men, respectively.

We’re always told that we’re the future. We’re always told we can make a difference.

Let’s change the future — let’s create the much needed culture where all survivors are believed and supported rather than shamed and blamed. Let’s create a culture where those who commit sexual assault don’t walk away free and obtain ridiculous amounts of power as president or Supreme Court Justice.

We, as a society, need to stop attempting to uphold the reputation of those who have committed sexual assault. Trump did this for Kavanaugh on Twitter stating that he, “is a fine man, with an impeccable reputation.”

The “what about his future?” needs to end.

There are a few easy ways to start creating this change.

First, learn how to be comfortable asking for consent and encourage others to do so. If you can’t talk about sex, you probably shouldn’t be engaging in those activities. Second, hold yourself and those around you accountable for their actions. Just because a conversation may be difficult doesn’t mean it’s not necessary.

Lastly, and one of the most important changes we can make is believing survivors. Let’s stop asking “What were you wearing?” or “How much did you drink that night?” and let’s ask “How can we best support you?”

These changes can make an impact in preventing gender violence and assisting those who have been affected by it.

I see you. I hear you. I believe you.

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Wascar Ramirez, ’19, is an associate lifestyle editor for The Brown and White. He can be reached at [email protected].