Graphic by Clara Boberg
By Gil Alon
Opinions Managing Editor
I am excited to see what college is like- going to interesting classes, living in the dorms and meeting incredible people. After college, I dream of a meaningful career where I hopefully can leave my imprint, no matter how small, on this Earth. Along the way I will encounter multiple bosses and mentors who will shape the person that I will become.
However, the common story on every news network and news outlet right now is not of the great work of women to inspire my future actions, but a constant reminder of men sexually harassing, assaulting or raping the women trying to learn from them, stories that do not excite me for the future.
Missing from the constant stories, news broadcasters commentary, and heartbreaking details of the interactions is a fundamental part of the story: how do we fix this epidemic. To help our future journalists, actresses, models and senators aides, we have a duty to figure out strategies for a solution, or at least entertain the idea of a better future.
In early October, The New York Times and The New Yorker reported that dozens of women, including Cara Delevingne, Ashley Judd and Angelina Jolie, accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment, assault, and rape. Those first accusations, then sparked a slew of new accusations and women coming forward telling how various actors, senators, comedians and news anchors took advantage of them.
Currently, TIME magazine’s list of public figures accused of sexual assault after Weinstein numbers at 86 men. TIME, additionally, named their person of the year, a title granted to the group of people who had the most influence on the events of the year, to “The Silence Breakers”: the women who accused Harvey Weinstein.
The nation, shocked by the gruesome details and experience these women endured and their favorite stars falling, continued for weeks and months to watch the news daily for updates on these unfolding stories
These stories follow a common pattern: an initial accusation followed by more brave women coming forward. Then the majority of men deny the accusations, while some apologize for their actions, ultimately a few men are forced to resign or fired from their powerful positions.
The current plethora of these stories that seem routine to the public now, however, is not due to a recent surge in abuse, but rather women finally feeling empowered to speak out against decades of abuses of men in power. This problem always existed in our society and is only now coming to light.
This issue is also not isolated to the famous and elite. The Association of American Universities in 2015 surveyed 27 colleges and found that 23 percent of women experience a sexual assault incident in their four years of college. Jessie Ford and Paula England in 2015 surveyed 20,000 students using data from NYU in 21 colleges in the United States and concluded that 25 percent of women will fall victim to sexual assault.
However, what seems to be missing from the weeks of constant broadcasts and countless accusations and resignations is the answer to the question of how does the nation move forward.
Right now, modern society is confronted with a problem with men in power and boys in college campuses believing they are above the law and are invisible. However, rather than focusing on a solution to that problem or teaching young men correct strategies, we focus on the fear of men “being next” and the constant cycle of accusations and denials.
These women deserve a platform to speak and the time for the nation to hear their stories. However, before the nation forgets and moves on we need to take an introspective view on how this epidemic originated in a modern day where most people believe young boys learn not to rape and how the nation treats these victims of sexual assaults.
For example, a CBS news poll finds that 71 percent of Republicans in believe the allegations against Roy Moore are false. Even though Moore lost the election, the fact that a high percentage of the population still chooses to not believe in these women display the confusion and disrespect these women face.
Their trauma and crime are dwindled down to opportunistic politics and 15 seconds of fame. Additionally, victims are always asked “what were you wearing” and “did you give him the wrong idea,” displaying how the public makes the trauma of sexual assault worse when victims speak out.
What seems obvious in almost every other problem presented in media, a solution, fails to meet the headlines for this particular epidemic. Sadly, the result will be a continuous flow of victims at the hands of their bosses and mentors.
I hope that when I read the news or turn on my television and another accuser, sadly, tells their story of abuse and harassment, it will be followed up by an analysis or inquiry into the possible mechanisms to solve this problem.
If the national media refuses to focus on this side of the issue, then local conversations in the classroom, lecture hall or even at home must take place. The focus must be prevention and respect towards women, so boys do not grow up ignorant and believe that their power means every woman “wants it.”
Basic knowledge- the importance of consent, respect, and consideration- is vital to instill into the values of young boys before they grope their co-worker or force a woman to have sex with them. Through conversations in classrooms, to intimate talks with parents and friends discouraging bad behavior, a culture of respect towards women will build around our young boys.
We must also build a culture around women that respects women who speak out and not questions them every step of the way to continuously prove they are telling the truth. Through that supportive environment, hopefully, these victims will feel protected and not like they are on public trial.
I want to believe that if told and instructed correctly most men will not use their power in society to harass, assault and rape women. That may be naive, but if given the right tools I hope that I will be right and we can learn from this moment, that the past of silence is gone and will think twice before making another woman a victim.
