Sexual violence is a widespread issue in our society, with more than one in four U.S. adults (26%)– or over 68 million people– falling victim this past year. Despite this, sexual violence has become normalized due to the sheer number of cases, causing many to overlook the severity and lifelong impacts of sexual violence. Such a situation represents a profound systemic problem, with far-reaching consequences.
Media headlines are rife with negative stories pertaining to sexual violence, war, political division, and climate change. Positive news stories are a rare sight in the media these days. Despite the need to report stories that warn people of potential danger, the constant barrage of negative headlines has created a pervasive normalization of these acts and issues, leading to a desensitized effect on the public. We have become so accustomed to seeing these stories that we risk losing sight of the human suffering represented by these statistics.
Our governmental institutions are meant to protect and serve our citizens, yet they often fall short when it comes to addressing sexual violence. The cases involving Gaetz, Kavanaugh, and Hegseth are prime examples of how our institutions continue to fail us. We see a pattern of cover-ups and inadequate investigations when high-profile public figures are involved. The lack of accountability for powerful figures perpetuates a system where survivors are ignored and perpetrators thrive. People who have perpetrated sexual violence cannot be trusted to enact laws or policies that prevent it. With nothing being done, cases involving sexual violence continue to grow. If those involved remain in power, incidents of sexual violence will keep increasing, causing the public to become even more desensitized to their normalization.
In 2023, Bennie Thorpe, who was a captain at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, was accused of sexually assaulting two inmates. Despite pending lawsuits against Thorpe, he was recently promoted to the position of superintendent of the Marcy Correctional Facility. The failure to hold our nation’s leaders accountable for their actions leads to a normalization of sexual violence across every level of our society.
Overlooking sexual violence is not only a failure of attention; it’s a failure of our society to prioritize and uphold the safety and dignity of its citizens. We must address the fact that we have been desensitized and normalized headlines involving sexual violence, and recommit ourselves to confronting and eliminating it in its many forms.
Here are some actionable steps we can take towards such a future:
Strengthen Accountability Measures
- Those accused of acts of sexual violence should promptly be placed on administrative leave while investigations take place, and terminated if found guilty
- A separate body to handle investigations solely against public officials should be created
- Past allegations and convictions of sexual misconduct must be made public for potential candidates
Legal and Judicial Reformation
- Policies that allow officials to escape the consequences of their actions through internal settlements or procedural delays must be reformed
- Investigations must be survivor-centered
- We must implement harsher penalties for those in positions of power who are found guilty
Public Awareness
- Media outlets should not only highlight incidents of sexual violence, but also solutions and the systemic failures that enable it
- Promote public and survivor-led discussions to combat desensitization and promote the humanization of sexual violence
Survivor Support Systems
- Stronger legal protections must be implemented for those who report acts of sexual violence, to protect them from acts of retaliation and ensure their mental, emotional, and job security
- Survivors should be granted fully funded access to legal aid, therapy, and other support services
- In order to prevent sexual violence, we must address the normalization and hold those in power accountable for their actions. We have the power and responsibility to demand accountability at every level of society. True change requires a collective effort towards systematic reformation. It is time to act, before another statistic replaces a person’s suffering.
