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Frat boy culture was put under the microscope during the Kavanaugh hearings, unlike in 1991. In 2018, there is no statute of limitations on a teen's drunk past catching up with him; at least women's voices were heard. Maybe not who should have listened, but at least by the rest of us.
And here lies the glimmer of hope that we have not had in 1991: social media has thoroughly overhauled the landscape for the sexual assault or harassment victims.
From the Ford story surfaced the WhyIDidntReport hashtag This is shed light on why for women, keeping quiet is, alas, the norm. It also delivered to treasure trove of data.
Sadly, Kavanaugh's confirmation has been validated many times by the women who said they did not report their alleged assault; especially the fear of facing a culture that is venomously suspicious of victims.
The passage of time was another factor women, embarrassment, shame, the consumption of alcohol or drugs, the wearing of a low, or high cut garment (so, fear of the old bad "she was asking for it" excuse ). Fear of retribution came up, as did internalised feelings of responsibility. Not wanting to implicate a loved one.
Sexual violence in all its forms is notoriously underreported, with only a fraction of the number of visits to a police station. If the Kavanaugh hearings yielded any benefit, it is the provision of insight into why so.
In delivering her testimony, Ford was in a perilous situation. Not only did he face a large hostile senate, but did not meet the expectations of the United States.
Ford reportedly received death threats, had to move into the family, and now exists as a living and breathing embodiment of the disclosure of sexual harassment or assault.
For Ford, one consequence of speaking up about the United States.
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Two central criticisms underpinned skepticism about Ford's testimony. The first, and the most easily dismissed, is that it was political. As a political scientist I'd argue everything is political, but always, I'd respond, so what? Coming forward only when a person who is abused is a person who has a relationship with a person who is a member of the public, and who is a member of the public.
The second, and more thorny factor, was time: ie that Ford took too long to report. Such a position of race, only makes sense to people who have never been in a situation of sexual trauma and who thus harbor delusions, or at least misinformation, about how a rational person would, or "should", respond.
Added to the above-mentioned factors in the reporting of sexual assault reporting, and the knowledge that it is near-impossible to get a sexual assault or rape belief. As long as it looks like we're a society that expends so much energy on not rape will continue.
Brett Kavanaugh can now call himself Justice. Perhaps if we were honest with ourselves we would always know this would happen. If anything, it's all about it.
Dr. Lauren Rosewarne is a senior lecturer in the School of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Melbourne.
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