Blame. Doubt. Harassment or worse.
These are what Jackie, a survivor of sexual assault, is facing after Rolling Stone published the story of her brutal gang rape at the University of Virginia. On Friday, Rolling Stone issued a correction to its story--after a fraternity spoke out against the article--and attacked Jackie's credibility, saying "our trust in her was misplaced." The line was deleted over the weekend, but the Internet had already exploded with claims that Jackie's story shouldn't be believed.
This is the type of victim-blaming survivors of sexual assault face every day when they report their assault--whether to college administrators, military command, or the police. It's rape culture, and it keeps survivors silent.
Already conservative blogs are attacking Jackie, the student who bravely shared her story, and saying she made it up. But the truth is fewer than 6% of sexual assault cases have failed to produce evidence. In fact, fewer reports of rape are false than reports of car thefts.
That's why it's so important that we stand together to support Jackie and other survivors, and that we ensure that people know the truth about rape culture.
Blame. Doubt. Harassment or worse.
These are what Jackie, a survivor of sexual assault, is facing after Rolling Stone published the story of her brutal gang rape at the University of Virginia. On Friday, Rolling Stone issued a correction to its story--after a fraternity spoke out against the article--and attacked Jackie's credibility, saying "our trust in her was misplaced." The line was deleted over the weekend, but the Internet had already exploded with claims that Jackie's story shouldn't be believed.
This is the type of victim-blaming survivors of sexual assault face every day when they report their assault--whether to college administrators, military command, or the police. It's rape culture, and it keeps survivors silent.
Already conservative blogs are attacking Jackie, the student who bravely shared her story, and saying she made it up. But the truth is fewer than 6% of sexual assault cases have failed to produce evidence. In fact, fewer reports of rape are false than reports of car thefts.
That's why it's so important that we stand together to support Jackie and other survivors, and that we ensure that people know the truth about rape culture.