By Caleigh Montoya, Staff Writer
Colorado State Legislature has introduced a bill that aims to protect sexual assault survivors when it comes to what can be presented as evidence during criminal hearings. This would eliminate the victim having a previous relationship with the accused as being legitimate evidence. A big part of this bill is to end victim blaming from entering the system. Victim blaming happens when the victim of a crime is blamed for the crime happening. This regularly occurs in sexual violence cases.
Victim blaming disempowers the victim and makes the victim less eager to come forward and speak up about the crime, especially in sexual assault instances. This also adds to rape culture. Rape culture is an environment in which rape and sexual assault thrive. Rape culture is kept alive through misogynistic discourses, objectification, and the romanticization of violence.
Examples of rape culture look like:
Sexually explicit jokes
Allowing sexual harassment
Victim blaming
Normalizing sexual assault with the use of stereotypes
Accusing the victim of false accusations
Scrutinizing victims stories
Sexual pressure on men to engage sexually and pressure on women to not be a “prude”
Teaching women how to prevent rape
How we can prevent rape culture and victim blaming:
Avoid objectifying language
Speak out if you hear joking about rape
If someone comes forward about their experience, validate them
Let survivors know that it is not their fault
Be aware of victims’ physical boundaries
Hold abusers accountable
Always communicate and do not assume consent
Be an active bystander