It’s often said that rape is the most under-reported crime and after watching the Bill Cosby trial play out, it’s clear why. From the very beginning there has been an effort to shame, blame, and discredit all of the ladies who have come forward. (Personally, I find it impossible to believe that over 50 women are all lying!)

While we have progressed a lot as a society, some myths simply will not die. Take, for example, the theory that someone can “ask for it” or cause abuse by wearing “provocative clothes.” Surely, in the year 2017, with so much more awareness, this nonsense couldn’t be believed by anyone…

Not only do some people believe it wholeheartedly, it can even sway their vote. A male juror from Cosby’s trial is quoted as saying, “Let’s face it: She went up to his house with a bare midriff and incense and bath salts. What the heck?”

This is so sad, so shocking, and so illogical! Regardless of what type of clothing, or underwear, or shoes a person is wearing, it can not be an excuse for rape. Even if an individual was walking through the street in the nude, nobody has the right to molest, assault, or abuse them in any manner. A bare midriff is not an invitation to be manhandled like a piece of meat!

I truly wish we lived in a world where women and girls weren’t judged so harshly based on their appearance. A world where total equality was the norm. Unfortunately, we aren’t living in that kind of place, and until things change, we have to do everything we can to protect ourselves from vicious predators. Ladies need to carry mace in their purses, attend self defense classes, and take any reasonable safety measure. (Of course, it’s not always possible to prevent crime, but we still have to try!)

And, most of all, when a victim is brave enough to come forward, we can NOT talk about her clothes, or whether she was drinking, or her past dating history. Every victim deserves the right to be believed instead of harassed and doubted.

I am extremely disappointed by the jurors decision in the Cosby case. No matter how much I wish it had been a conviction, this is how the law works and we have to accept it. What I wonder, though, is how many others will stay silent because of what these victims were subjected to? Now, that is one scary thought to ponder…

How do you feel about the Cosby Case?