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Editor’s note: This post has been edited to correct for Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s title as Dr. instead of Ms.
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I want to build a wall, no, not that one. The wall I wish to build is around Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. This structure won’t be made from bricks and mortar or wood and nails. Indeed, walls made from these materials degrade over time and eventually collapse. I wish to construct something impenetrable that will surround Ms. Ford and deflect the personal attacks being lobbed her way.
This shouldn’t be necessary. Indeed, it says something about the world we’ve created that Dr. Ford feared telling her story. She knew what would happen and chose to hide her trauma in the hopes of being spared further degradation. This is a sacrifice no one should feel they have to make.
The weight of the world has landed on Dr. Ford’s shoulders. Imagine the choices available to her: remain quiet and watch a judge who is openly hostile to Roe v. Wade get confirmed to the Supreme Court or go public with the knowledge that your story will be unfairly scrutinized and may not change the eventual outcome. Dr. Ford tried a third path, one where she could protect her privacy while alerting the powers that be. This approached failed but the issue here isn’t why she went that route, rather it’s why she felt compelled to stay silent for more than 35 years.
The answer has nothing to do with Dr. Ford’s character. In my limited knowledge of her life, Dr. Ford comes across as an incredibly smart and capable woman—but here, again, is the trap: Her perceived character should not matter. Titles tell us nothing. A professor and a sex worker can each be the victim of a sexual assault. What’s important is what we as a society do when a woman says a man climbed on top of her, ripped at her clothes and covered her mouth when she attempted to scream for help. Do we ask why the woman waited so long to talk or do we ask ourselves a harder question, namely why did we make it so hard for this woman to talk?
I don’t know of a link I could use to articulate this point. I can’t think of a website that lists all the times a woman has been shamed into silence. It is probably impossible to document such a thing. I could offer famous examples of what happened when women threw themselves to the wolves. I’m thinking of Anita Hill, Monica Lewinsky and the women who became part of the #MeToo Movement. These women were subjected to vile insults and threats. These are just the cases we know about. Think of all the times an executive assistant had to suffer her bosses’ predatory behavior because she felt she had no recourse. Imagine walking down a street and being catcalled but saying nothing because you don’t know what the man will do.
I don’t know the exact nature of the problem. However, I know too much credence is given to the Brett Kavanaugh’s of the world. The refrain I’m hearing is that Kavanaugh is a super great guy, a family man, a carpool dad. He’s a judge, a distinguished member of the bench who’s being victimized by these baseless accusations and besides this supposedly happened a long time ago. He was just a kid and who among us hasn’t committed some “youthful indiscretion”? Kavanaugh’s perceived character shouldn’t matter. Titles tell us nothing. A judge can still be guilty of committing sexual assault. What’s important is how we respond when a woman comes forward and says this man climbed on top of her, ripped at her clothes and covered her mouth when she attempted to scream for help. Do we ask why the woman waited so long to talk or do we ask if Kavanaugh really, truly respects the rule of law and the rights of others?
I want to build a wall around Christine Blasey Ford and around all women who’ve been the victims of rape, sexual assault and sexual abuse. To be clear, I don’t think women need me to protect them. It’s just, there should be no barriers to justice, no obstacles that block accountability. Until this happens, I want to build a wall so these women feel they are safe to tell their stories.
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