Once upon a recent school year, a young man named Kyle Thompson committed a horrifying act against an unconscious woman behind a dumpster at a well-known university. Meanwhile, my 11-year-old daughter received her very first cell phone. Just a few months into this new technology adventure, a call came in from a boy who shouted, “I just want you to know that I think you’re a total jerk!”
The victim in Kyle’s case woke up in a hospital, disoriented and confused, with her clothes missing and pine needles tangled in her hair. She had no recollection of the traumatic event and avoided discussing it for weeks, even with her boyfriend and parents.
My daughter, on the other hand, shrugged off the nasty phone call. “It’s no big deal, Mom. Boys at school say stuff like that all the time,” she said. She insisted it didn’t bother her, and she didn’t want to delve into it further with me or my partner.
Kyle’s father infamously remarked, “This is a steep price to pay for 20 minutes of action. I know as his dad that jail time isn’t the right punishment for Kyle.”
I reached out to the boy’s parents, which was a leap since I didn’t know them. The dad responded, “Let the kids handle it. I know he didn’t mean it. He says your daughter is nice to him.” The mom promised to call back but never did.
During the trial, the defense lawyers probed the victim about her past relationships, her attire, her weight, and how much she had been drinking. In the court of public opinion, people questioned if my daughter had somehow provoked the boy. Friends suggested he might have acted out because of a crush on her.
In the end, Kyle received a mere six-month sentence in county jail instead of the potential 14 years in prison, with the judge worrying about the impact of incarceration on his future.
I reported the incident to the school administration, and the counselor dismissed it, saying, “These boys don’t really know what they’re saying. They hear things on TV and just repeat them. He’ll be mortified if we confront him, and it didn’t even happen on school property.”
Recognizing the Roots of Rape Culture
Let’s be clear: this is where rape culture starts. It begins early, and often we fail to recognize it until it spirals out of control—resulting in heinous acts and shattered lives. It’s time for change. Speak up. Teach your sons to respect girls. Encourage young men to honor and listen to women. And ensure that consequences match the severity of the crime.
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Conclusion
In summary, we must confront the early roots of rape culture and instill respect in our children. Let’s empower the next generation to foster a safer, more respectful environment.