Conservatives Dismiss Brett Kavanaugh Sexual Assault Allegations | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
popular

Should Your Actions At 17 Define Your Life Now? Conservatives Say Yes For Women, No For Brett Kavanaugh

If you don't believe Kavanaugh's actions at 17 should dictate the rest of his life, you shouldn't think that a pregnant 17-year-old's actions should dictate the rest of her's, either.

3767
Should Your Actions At 17 Define Your Life Now? Conservatives Say Yes For Women, No For Brett Kavanaugh

Brett Kavanaugh, Donald Trump's (inevitably) controversial pick for the Supreme Court, has been swirling around in the news again since being selected. But this time, it is a little bit less about Kavanaugh now and more about Kavanaugh at the ripe age of 17.

Christine Blasey Ford, a California professor, held onto the information for 36 years. But as Kavanaugh came closer and closer to a seat in the Supreme Court, she said, "I feel like my civic responsibility is outweighing my anguish and terror about retaliation." In a shocking, detailed account, Ford alleges Kavanaugh pinned her down against the bed, groped her, attempted to rip off her clothes and put his hand over her mouth to stifle her screams.

She was 15.

It is no wonder Ford was afraid to share her story. Beyond the extensive wait time, Kavanaugh is approaching a position of extreme power. With the #MeToo movement, people are quick to assume women are falsely accusing powerful men of sexual assault to receive money or notoriety. And, like all survivors who come forward years later (or even right away), many people are vehemently against her.

But beyond people believing she's a lying, money-hungry life-ruiner (and here it is worth mentioning that she both passed a polygraph and there are notes from her 2012 couple's therapy about the incident happening), some people do believe her, and simply believe it isn't really a big deal due to Kavanaugh's age:

"Ford claimed Kavanaugh was drunk. Hell, if ATTEMPTED stuff by drunk 17 year-olds is the standard by which we judge the persons in their 50s, I suspect most of the world's men would be in serious trouble!" — @laraineabbey

"Thinking of the accusations against Judge Kavanaugh, even if true, is he the same person now that he was when he was 17? Are you? I know I am not." — @HEassa

"Kavanaugh was 17 years old. I remember when I was 17. Sex was all I thought of. Give this wonderful Judge a break. We were all different in our teenage years." — @2Tebow

Let's jump elsewhere, though, to another classic Kavanaugh point of contention: Abortion. In a now very popular case, a 17-year-old immigrant girl was detained for crossing the border. She was fleeing domestic abuse from her parents, so was unable to provide a parental sponsor. In his final dissenting opinion, Judge Kavanaugh ruled that she could not get an abortion, as illegal immigrant minors shouldn't get "an abortion on demand."

I urge you to put your views on immigration aside and see this: A minor, with a family so abusive she fled illegally while pregnant, was (nearly) forced to have a child. Bringing a child into that situation doesn't seem very "pro-life" to me, it seems somewhere between "pro-birth" and "pro-control." But regardless, Brett Kavanaugh believed that two decisions she made at 17 (to have sex and thus become pregnant and to enter the U.S. illegally) should affect her life forever. Forcing a minor with no family, no home and likely no resources to have a child at 17 will absolutely define her life forever.

And some people seem to agree that that is A-OK.

"I don't think abortions are cool. If you get pregnant, oh well. Deal with it. Shit happens. It might be your karma or something that wronged you." @TrishyyMariee

"You have consensual sex = you take the chance of getting pregnant (duh) & just bc you don't want the responsibility of a child that you unintentionally created doesn't mean it should have to suffer the consequences by being aborted. That's your own fault, grow up & raise your kid. " — @brooklynelson

"If you spread your legs and get pregnant, grow up and raise your child. It's not your baby's fault you're a hoe." @lil_annalyn_

Here's the thing. This article isn't about immigration or abortion or really even sexual assault.

It is about double standards.

If you don't believe Kavanaugh's actions at 17 should dictate the rest of his life, you shouldn't think that a pregnant 17-year-old's actions should dictate the rest of her's, either. There is no world in which a man is simply too young to realize sexual assault is disgusting and wrong but a pregnant woman is in the situation by her own fault.

That is a double standard.

Brett Kavanaugh was 17 years old when he allegedly assaulted a woman, but it is OK because he's in his 50s now and that was simply a mistake kids make and shouldn't have his entire life change because of it.

Brett Kavanaugh was in his 50s when he attempted to deny a 17-year-old immigrant the right to an abortion, which apparently means she was more than just a kid and it was OK for her entire life to be changed because of it.

So should your actions at 17 define your entire life? Brett Kavanaugh says yes — if you're a pregnant woman

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Gilmore Girls
Hypable

In honor of Mother’s Day, I have been thinking of all the things my mom does for my family and me. Although I couldn’t write nearly all of them, here are a few things that moms do for us.

They find that shirt that’s right in front of you, but just you can’t seem to find.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

10 Reasons To Thank Your Best Friend

Take the time to thank that one friend in your life you will never let go of.

5978
Thank You on wooden blocks

1. Thank you for being the one I can always count on to be honest.

A true friend will tell you if the shirt is ugly, or at least ask to borrow it and "accidentally" burn it.

2. Thank you for accepting me for who I am.

A best friend will love you regardless of the stale french fries you left on the floor of your car, or when you had lice in 8th grade and no one wanted to talk to you.

Keep Reading...Show less
sick student
StableDiffusion

Everybody gets sick once in a while, but getting sick while in college is the absolute worst. You're away from home and your mom who can take care of you and all you really want to do is just be in your own bed. You feel like you will have never-ending classwork to catch up on if you miss class, so you end up going sick and then it just takes longer to get better. Being sick in college is really tough and definitely not a fun experience. Here are the 15 stages that everyone ends up going through when they are sick at college.

Keep Reading...Show less
kid
Janko Ferlic
Do as I say, not as I do.

Your eyes widen in horror as you stare at your phone. Beads of sweat begin to saturate your palm as your fingers tremble in fear. The illuminated screen reads, "Missed Call: Mom."

Growing up with strict parents, you learn that a few things go unsaid. Manners are everything. Never talk back. Do as you're told without question. Most importantly, you develop a system and catch on to these quirks that strict parents have so that you can play their game and do what you want.

Keep Reading...Show less
friends
tv.com

"Friends" maybe didn’t have everything right or realistic all the time, but they did have enough episodes to create countless reaction GIFs and enough awesomeness to create, well, the legacy they did. Something else that is timeless, a little rough, but memorable? Living away from the comforts of home. Whether you have an apartment, a dorm, your first house, or some sort of residence that is not the house you grew up in, I’m sure you can relate to most of these!

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments