Topic > Stigmatization of crimes of abuse and assault

Judge Brett Kavanaugh's recent nomination to the United States Supreme Court was preceded by a highly contentious nomination hearing. Dr. Christine Blasey Ford came forward in an anonymous op-ed detailing the horrific assault she suffered when she was fifteen at the hands of seventeen-year-old Brett Kavanaugh. Reporters sought her identity and that's when Dr. Ford went public with her allegations and eventually testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay In her sworn testimony, Dr. Ford recounted the details of the assault and her fear of being accidentally killed. His testimony was supplemented by details he shared in a therapy session in 2012 and in a recently administered polygraph exam. The therapy session arose from a disagreement she had with her husband regarding his request for double doors in his home. It was then that he first recounted the details of his assault, believing that establishing alternative escape routes in his own home would help ease his worries. Traumatic events such as sexual assault can develop into psychopathology long after the precipitating event has occurred and can continue to affect a person throughout their life. Dr. Ford presented a compelling narrative, describing her attacker as a drunken drinker, which was supported by friends and roommates who were familiar with Judge Kavanaugh's character at the time. However, with none of these people being asked to testify, it was clear that the hearing was intended to create the appearance of due diligence rather than an honest assessment of Judge Kavanaugh's suitability to serve on the highest court. Dr. Ford's testimony was called into question because she could not specifically recall minute details regarding the night that had nothing to do with the assault. Dr Ford, a psychology professor and researcher, said: “Laughter is indelible in the hippocampus. The uproarious laughter between the two and the fun at my expense” (1). During a conference we studied that victims often do not remember all the peripheral details surrounding the traumatic experience. Often the body can respond in this way before and after the occurrence of a stressor. Many women and survivors have shared their personal experiences with sexual trauma and how it has affected them in their daily lives. Especially in the wake of the Me Too movement against sexual harassment and assault that has spread through social media. Numerous celebrities have passed and the current allegations of sexual misconduct have emerged and global society has been forced to re-examine the culture that had enabled this behavior. Survivors shared how they found themselves reliving their traumatic experiences. Similar to the class discussion about celebrities who committed suicide, it has been correlated with an increase in suicides and calls to the suicide hotline. Coverage of traumatic and triggering events appears to elicit a strong response from the public. Trauma is a risk factor for the development of psychopathology. We learned that women are more likely to be diagnosed with anxiety disorders and are more likely to experience childhood sexual abuse. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Additionally, the Gender-based expectations placed on the behaviors of..