14-Year-Old Rape Victim Slut Shamed by Town: "I Can’t Walk Outside Without Someone Calling Me a Whore or Slut�

[titty]

June 11, 2013  |  

Several high-profile cases of sexual assault have shown the consequences of rape culture: From Rehtaeh Parsons’ suicide [2] to the Steubenville rape trial [3], these girls were re-victimized by the harassment and public shaming that followed the sexual assault.

Now, a 14-year-old in Elwood, Indiana who is eight months pregnant faces ongoing harassment simply because her neighborhood sees her as a very young pregnant girl. But a reporter at the Indianapolis Star writes that her town does not know the full story [4] of the 17-year-old boy who physically overpowered her after she told him “no.†On Tuesday, he faces sentencing for three counts of child molestation.

At the same time the girl has encountered vicious public shaming from her community, she and her mother Kristy Green have spoken out [4] because they worry her assailant will walk free in juvenile court:

 

“I can’t walk out the door without someone calling me a whore or slut,†the girl said. “I used to have a lot of friends, or people I thought were my friends, but as soon as this happened I just isolated myself.â€

The repeated vandalism incidents at the family’s home — including the words “whore†and “slut†scrawled on the garage doors — were reported to police. But Green said no charges were filed because there were no witnesses to the acts.

 

Her daughter also has been the target of mean-spirited rumors and speculation that her pregnancy is the result of promiscuous behavior.

 

This ordeal is all too common for victims of sexual assault — a reality that affects not just U.S. teens in school, but also pervades military [5] and sports [6] culture. The Chicago Tribune Editorial Board recently noted [7] that “it’s still news when a rape victim stands in front of the cameras to state what ought to be obvious, which is that she has nothing to be ashamed of.â€

But the people in Elwood — lacking the details of the rape due to privacy in the juvenile court system — reverted to alienating the teen for her pregnancy because they assumed she must have been “promiscuous.†That’s true for many teen moms across the country, who are often on the receiving end of this stigma [8] precisely at the time they most need support. Public awareness campaigns [9] attempting to prevent teen pregnancy often put inordinate focus on “slut-shaming†abstinence over comprehensive sexual health resources [10].

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why didn't she get an abortion tho?

[Plastically_Boomiful]

Wow...such a SHAME. What is wrong with the world...

[Stargazer1]

This is freaking disgusting the blame the victim mentality against rape victims.

 

People right away jump the gun without knowing anything. Slut shaming a girl/woman is never ok under any circumstances. 

 

My hearts goes to this young woman. I can sort of relate to her but not to the extent. 

 

I hope she isn't blaming herself for what happen because its a tendency victims do. 

 

Wow...such a SHAME. What is wrong with the world...

Its not the world, but it's people.  -_-

[YIXINGISM]

Where is humanity

[Guest Kami_removed]

Disgusting 

[mglsts]

This is just sad and shameful...

[Wholahay]

This thread and the one recently posted about assault are making me so fucking angry.  Fuck people.   

[SEWER RAT]

She should have gotten an abortion...she's endangering her health, probably didn't because of religious beliefs or family pressure...or even due to lack of education.

[Punk Princess]

WTF??????? She was raped! Why are people calling her a slut and a whore?! Like,for real?! U know what,fuck people,just fuck 'em. 

[Scribbles]

That is fucked up, I hope everyone who called her a whore and slut get on their knees and apologize. That whole town jumped to conclusions without even knowing the facts. Shame on them.

[VT Evil Queen]

Wow. Smh

[kissxkiss_baby]

Maybe she couldn't afford an abortion (apparently you have to pay in America)

Or see found out to late. . . 

 

I just don't understand this though, even girls who were pregnant at my high school were not treated like this 

[Punk Princess]

Maybe see could afford an abortion (apparently you have to pay in America)

Or see found out to late. . . 

 

I just don't understand this though, even girls who were pregnant at my high school were not treated like this 

 

True. You have to pay for it. They refuse to abort if the pregnancy is too far long.

 

Maybe because the girls at your school werent raped. IDK. They laid down willing....she didnt. 

[kissxkiss_baby]

otl my grammar, I am going to bed

True. You have to pay for it. They refuse to abort if the pregnancy is too far long.

 

Maybe because the girls at your school werent raped. IDK. They laid down willing....she didnt. 

I mean being young and pregnant. Girls here aren't harshly judged or mistreated the way this girl was. 

[Punk Princess]

otl my grammar, I am going to bed

I mean being young and pregnant. Girls here aren't harshly judged or mistreated the way this girl was. 

 

LOL,you're grammar is fine. 

 

Cause in today's society,its normal. No matter how wrong it is,to some,that is normal. What country are you in? I live in america and stuff like that is normal. Unfortunately.

[Kazuma Kiryu]

Humanity Destroyed once again.

[Popero44]

Just awful.

[mistakesweremade]

Shes a victim yet receives all the blame when will people learn.

[hansoobibi]

that's really harsh..people judging her when they didn't even know the story behind all of it

i'm proud of her for staying strong and keeping the child

even when the most amazing thing comes from the most terrible thing that happened to her life

[snitchseeker]

Oh, this is disgusting. How can they have the audacity to call her a whore when she was the one raped

[Ulmicola]

She should have gotten an abortion... she's endangering her health, probably didn't because of religious beliefs or family pressure... or even due to lack of education.

 

This. I mean, giving birth to a child at 14 is...

 

I hope the child will get adopted at least, because a 14 year old girl has better things to do than be a mother. Study, for example. She'll never forget what happened, but at least she can still have a decent future. 

[plush-cthulhu]

Just look at the towns official website to get an idea what kind of place this is: http://eiowebsite.com/content/churches

And that's a town of only about 8000 people :P