Rape Culture Claims Another Victim: Teen Ends Life After Photo Of Her Alleged Gang Rape Goes Viral

[redqueen]

Seventeen months ago a Canadian teen was allegedly gang-raped by four of her peers and the photo evidence of the rape spread across her community. But unlike the situation that unfolded in Steubenville, where the victim was at least given the comfort of knowing her assailants received some measure of punishment (even if the media took their side), this case ended in tragedy: The victim was taken off life support by her family on Sunday, three days after attempting to end her own life.

Seventeen-year-old Rehtaeh Parsons’ suicide was the harrowing end to a story involving not only sexual assault, but also the issues of harassment and victim-blaming that are problematic symptoms of rape culture. According to her mother Leah Parsons’ post on her Facebook, Rehtaeh was subject to significant bullying from her peers, who labeled her as a “slut”:

“The (p)erson Rehtaeh once was all changed one dreaded night in November 2011. She went with a friend to another’s home. In that home she was raped by four young boys…one of those boys took a photo of her being raped and decided it would be fun to distribute the photo to everyone in Rehtaeh’s school and community where it quickly went viral. Because the boys already had a “slut” story, the victim of the rape Rehtaeh was considered a SLUT.”

Parsons didn’t know about the assault until days after it happened, when Rehteah broke down in the kitchen crying. At that point, it was too late for a rape kit —which may have contributed to the fact that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) dropped their investigation after a year without charges.

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/04/09/1840501/rehtaeh-parsons-rape-culture/

More here, including a petition demanding an inquiry into how this case was handled.
http://bellejarblog.wordpress.com/2013/04/09/rehtaeh-parsons/

[seabeyond]

1. shame on everyone that blames the girl for a picture, not the man to put it on reddit for ridicule.

that sees a film of rape on FB and without any evidence tells us it is simulated. that spread a lie that false accusations are as high as 45-75%. that puts up decades old studies saying no really means yes.

another of our girls dead. because after all, boys are merely being boys and cant really tell rape. but, how dare us educate them on what rape is.

i am so sad.

the internet is a bunch of bottomfeeders preying of our girls, violence to get off on.

[redqueen]

4. And these ideas are hardly challenged.

It makes me wonder, as the blogger asked, where are the adults?

[riqster]

2. Despicable.

My heart goes out to the girl.

[Arcanetrance]

3. So sad I hope the case is reopened and the bastard who did this are made to pay

[BlueJazz]

5. Another life lost to cruelty, ignorance and hate.

[haikugal]

6. Horrible

and so sad. How is it possible this was on Facebook? Criminal all the way around.

Here is a link to the petition ..

https://www.change.org/petitions/justice-for-rehtaeh-demand-an-inquiry-into-the-police-investigation#share

[TDale313]

7. So heartbreaking.

[shenmue]

8. I just can't believe it

Good Lord. I hope she has some peace now.

[raccoon]

9. Horrible. I hope there is justice for her. nt

[Mnemosyne]

10. I am so grateful that when my daughter was attacked there was no 'social media'. My heart breaks

for this young lady's family.

Rest in Peace, Rehteah.

[Ilsa]

11. What are these monsters teaching their sons?

"Any vagina is fair game." ???

I'd like all girls to be given sex education on what to do after a sexual assault. I want to see those bastards prosecuted and thrown in jail, their college careers ruined, for as long as her life would have been ruined.

[seabeyond]

12. a little cross posting. when having a womans mag say, son, she is a whore. rape away?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/125520155

what do we expect from our society.