The Blame Game
Speak up for Yourself
In Rene Steinke's novel, "Friendswood", Willa Lambert is a smart, religious, 15 year old girl just trying to fit in like everyone else in high school. Willa's high school crush is senior Cully Holbrook; the most popular, football jock at her school. When walking through the halls from a club meeting Cully and his friends stop Willa to invite her to lunch at the Lawbornes house the next week. As a senior Cully and his friends have the privledge to leave for lunch, but not Willa. But you don't turn down Cully Holbrook.
The Lawbornes are out of town, when Willa arrives. She finds herself as the only girl at the 'party' but only focuses on being with Cully. With nothing but 2 drinks of vodka and Red Bull in her system Willa finds herself 'blacked out', something un-usual even for a first time drinker like Willa.
The next morning Willa wakes to find herself in a unfamiliar bed with blood on the sheets beneath her- naked, in pain, and alone with the word slut written on her hip.
With her memory coming back slowly in pieces she soon realizes that what happened to her that day was rape by several boys of the senior class.
Later it comes to Willa's attention that she was roofied by one of the boys at the party.
Speak up for yourself....
When a rumor circles around the school that Willa had sex with several of the senior boys during lunch period, students and teachers recognize how uncharacteristic that is for Willa but, still put blame on Willa's actions of that day. For example, Willa being there in the first place was her fault because she is an underclassmen who does not have the privilege to leave during lunch. It was Willa's fault for going with a group of boys and drinking with them, by agreeing to go to the party with them she was essential agreeing to having sex with all of them...
Atleast thats how everyone EXCEPT Willa see's it.
Rape victims don't speak up for themselves to avoid the blame game. The blame game is treatment victims receive after reporting an unconsensual act, like rape. After Willa is raped during lunch, the rumor circles around school that she had been with all the senior boys. Instead of the school councelor asking Willa if she was okay, and what happened; the councilor suggest that Willa 'takes some time off from school'. Other suggest 'she wanted it', 'she's a slut', and it was her fault for drinking in the first place.
When women report sexual assault the sad truth is they are not believed, this is why Willa doesn't WANT speak up.
Cully Holbrook is a popular, high school football player praised for his athletic talent and good looks.
EVERY girl hopes they could be with him a girl says after she heard about the rumor Willa claims she was 'raped' by Cully and his friends.
That is just it, men in power DO NOT have to take responsibility for their actions.
" It's just sex."
"She led him on."
"You can't say no to ----"
Donald Trump has been accused of groping, harassing, and assaulting several women. In each of these situations, women have bravely shared their stories with the public—instead of listening to what they have to say, many people dismissed them and called them 'attention seekers' and 'liars'. The women who have spoken out against Donald Trump were slandered by his campaign and his supporters.
He's Donald Trump, now the President of the United States... you can't say no to him.
In another instance, Bill Cosby's victims were interrogated about why they took drinks from him, or what they thought was going to happen if they went to his apartment alone. Others claimed that the woman accusing him of rape simply enjoyed rough sex.
Bill Cosby is a family man, generation grew up laughing at him on TV... he wouldn't do anything to anyone that didn't want it.
Why Willa NEEDS to speak up ...
Willa silences herself against exactly what happened during lunch to avoid more blame on herself.
However, if Willa herself speaks up for what happened to her it will be more likely that others will too.
By not speaking up, Willa is giving her rapist more power over her then just that one day; they think they have control over her mentally.
Despite the attention or criticism Willa will most likely receive by telling her story, someone, somewhere might see her bravery and feel less alone and willing to speak up about there own encounters.
Women, men and children who have been sexually assaulted, molested or raped need to tell their stories. To live in silence about something so utterly life-destroying will only feed society’s culture of denial on this topic and further marginalize sexual assault survivors.
Below is a video speaking to Sexual Assault Statistics and encouraging victims to speak out against there perpetrators:
You're not alone. Confidential help is available for free.
National Sexual Assault Hotline
Provides support and information to sexual assault survivors as well as supporters and allies seeking resources and information.
Call 1-800-656-4673
*Online chatting is also available through there website*
Giana, you've done a good job of getting your ideas down. I especially enjoyed your videos and memes; they developed your point nicely.
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