by Alexa Marquis, Editor-in-Chief
As someone who spends a large part of my life consuming content that deals with what’s going on in today’s society and pop culture, the verdict in Kesha’s court case definitely disappoints me, but it does not surprise me. I was surprised when Chris Brown beat Rihanna and people at school continued to listen to his music. I was surprised when I googled Woody Allen one day and found allegations of child abuse under the “Personal History” section of Wikipedia — right after lists of awards and accolades he had received. However, today, when I learned that Kesha would not be allowed to break her contract with her sexual abuser, I was not surprised.
We live in a society in which we need to prove that rape happened, that after surviving, the victim is told that her word isn’t good enough. But here’s the thing with Kesha: she wasn’t trying to have her rapist imprisoned, she simply wanted to be let out of the contract that bound them together. Kesha is a prime example of why women don’t bother to come forward and report sexual abuse — they get dragged through hell without receiving justice in return.
It doesn’t matter who you are or how many hit songs you’ve had. We should live in a world where we help victims realize that they are actually survivors and allow them to reclaim their lives. We should live in a world where we stop punishing the victim for fighting back and forcing them to relive their never-ending nightmare. It makes me angry that this is going to be reason for more men and women to suffer in silence, rather than speak up about their abuse. As if being through the actual traumatic experience wasn’t enough, they must continue to endure it, and it is unfortunate that being put through the legal and emotional wringer doesn’t provide the justice it should.
It is 2016, and I am torn between reading stories like the article by Bill Cosby’s victims encouraging women to speak out against sexual assault, and then seeing reports like Kesha’s that make me wonder: why bother? Nothing will change until victims are taken seriously in this fight against sexual assault. If a celebrity can’t even be granted distance from her rapist, how is any regular victim going to feel the answer would be any different for them?
Kesha is being looked at as an investment first. Everything else that she is and everything else that is at stake, like her mental health, her physical health, her life and her career outside of Sony, come in second. The court has sided with the company that is not standing up for her, but for her accused rapist and abuser.
This is what will make victims want to stay silent about their abuse, as if it’s their own fault. This will continue to enable that silence; victims will see Kesha’s story and how the justice system is failing her. It’s so hard to see that we live in a world where our justice system will force a victim of sexual and mental abuse to work with a company that supports her abuser. I believe Kesha and I believe in her. I can’t feel her pain, but I stand beside her in solidarity. I will support her and all victims, even when the courts don’t.