Powerful figures involved need to pay for silencing rape victims.
[CAUTION: Sexual Assault is mentioned in this post]
The conversation of rape culture in some of Australia’s biggest industries is never waning. Today, ex-NRL heavyweight Jarryd Hayne was found guilty of a 2018 rape. According to Heath Parkes-Hupton of News.com.au., the footballer’s victim has been praised by police for her courage to fight back.
We’ve been keeping tabs on what’s happening, but decided to wait until a verdict had been reached before covering it. What’s more, is the allegations of rape culture in parliament made by former staffer Brittany Higgins is also a talking point in the media at the moment.
The truly sickening thing that springs to mind with these two stories is how bigwigs in sport and politics claim the rapes were “consensual”. When someone is blackout drunk, there is no way a person can give consent.
Not all assaults are on women. Men are often victims too. Look at the #MeToo Movement that broke out in America. A load of people came forward with their stories of being assaulted by an array of top tier individuals. #MeToo gained so much traction that Harvey Weinstein who was the reason behind it starting got sent to prison.
Victims of sexual assault always run the risk of not being believed. The worst thing is if their attacker has massive influence. The odds of being believed then is even smaller.
Titans of Industry Need To Look Out For Employees
In the case of Brittany Higgins and the situation against Jarryd Hayne, the situations are different.
For Hayne, the sporting industry pulls in millions of dollars every year.
Regarding Ms Higgins, you have the political arena where politicians get paid more money than they know what to do with. Rape victims that were involved within these two industries are often dismissed because the perps are often high profile.
Concisely, Hayne could’ve gotten away with his crime. However, there was enough evidence to convict him. That is how justice should be served for the victims of such a disgusting atrocity. Moreover, no human being should be left to feel like they’re worthless.
Going back to Brittany Higgins, her interview on The Project was brave, and it was honest. Moreover, that is how we know she was raped.
Details get a person convicted. Brittany’s attacker thought he wouldn’t get caught because of his position. Furthermore, the man who attacked Brittany, and has been sacked.
Big industries need to stop protecting their biggest assets that make them cash. They need to stand up for the victims of rape culture. Saying that they do is very different to doing something about it. What if it were a person they loved who was attacked? Would they want justice or tell them that they’re lying? What kind of person do they want to be? The person who keeps silent or blows the whistle?
Recovery Is Long But Worth It
Furthermore, a rape survivor’s first step to recovery is finding someone who will believe them. It can be anyone from a family member to a counsellor. Recovering from something traumatic first starts with opening up to someone.
It can often be hard to find someone who will listen to you and not question what is being said. One place that is often the safest is a hospital where you can be checked over and assessed. There’s also the Police who have to take every crime that is reported as serious.
In conclusion, there is always a way back. Please, if you’ve been assaulted in any way, please contact your local law enforcement for assistance.
