Sexual Abuse — Public Awareness
As a girl growing up in South Korea, I often felt that I was stuck between two very distinct cultures. On one hand, there was the tendy, fast-paced life where young women such as myself were being educated in both home and at school that the future was an open-source of opportunity hindered only by our lack of self- motivation and ambition. On the other hand, as the ‘Me too’ movement has made its presence known here, news headlines show a different tale as countless women have slowly been coming forward with tales of regular sexual assault in the workplace. Many women are coming forward many years later because they never felt it was safe enough for them to go public with their experience. They feared they wouldn’t be believed, lose their jobs, or even be condemned as someone who was ‘asking’ for it. The idea that these women were victims being preyed on by men who were in positions of authority who took advantage of their superior physical and social power, is only now being publicly acknowledged, and the men who’ve been named, condemned. Pushed into action by an outraged public, the government has started public campaigns to spread awareness of sexual abuse in the workplace and in the public.
Now that I have been studying and living in America for the last one and a half years, I feel that America has a much deeper awareness of the problems and have taken proactive steps. There is definitely much more public awareness and a fitting punishment; legally and socially. By this, I mean that in South Korea, though there are legal actions taken against those who prey on vulnerable women, many people feel that the punishment is too weak and therefore ineffective. Especially those who have money and power have managed to avoid being charged. In America though, there was one case that really piqued my interest. I grew up watching the Cosby show because of my uncle who sent us the DVDs from America. I really fell in love with the Huxtables and their quirky friends. In my childish mind, the actor Bill Cosby, who played Dr. Huxtable, assumed all the qualities that made him such a great father on the show. He was humorous, generous, supportive, and always there for the Huxtable kids. Imagine my shock when I learned that Bill Cosby was serving a sentence for raping and harassing countless women over the years. He was one of the most beloved actors in America, with the unofficial title of “America’s dad,” and a real role model for many kids. Though it was sad that he used his public image to prey on women and get away with it for so long, what impressed me was that Americans were able to step away from his image, and take appropriate action in spite of his clout and power in Hollywood.
I hope that one day, women all around the world, who have been victims of rape or harassment will be able to come forward without being labeled. After all, it is ridiculous to think that in 2020, women should have to hide what happened for fear of public censure. Also, there is no room to have any doubts about the right of women to be in the workplace, or in positions of management and leadership. One day, when I have children, I would not want to tell my daughter that as a female, her voice is less important than that of her brother.
