Cosby’s conviction, power and rape

THE EDITOR, Sir:

Bill Cosby's conviction earlier this week has sparked much conversation (thankfully) about rape and sexual abuse of women and children. Unsurprisingly, many have come out in his defence - even after the court thoroughly ventilated the evidence presented to it by the alleged victims.

The truth is that men have been able to get away with raping girls and boys and women for many years for many reasons, including the fact that they are deemed to be 'noble' men. They have used their 'distinguished' status to shield themselves, to avoid being seen as and called perpetrators of rape and other forms of sexual violence and abuse.

Consequently, we shame the victims when they come forward. We castigate them for sullying the man's reputation. We chastise them for wanting something, for being a gold-digging whore from nowhere. We use our power, whatever influence we have to protect them and bully those who dare to come forward to be silent and even to pretend that they were lying.

Cosby's conviction, however difficult it may be for some of us, will help to shatter that fallacy, that idea that these renowned men (and women) could never be guilty of such wrongdoing. It will remove the veil from our eyes about these 'noble' and 'distinguished' men and force us to accept the truth about them.

TOO PREVALENT

Rape and sexual abuse of our women and children is too prevalent. It's about time we support efforts to secure justice for those who have had their innocence robbed from them; for those who were denied their personhood; for those who when they refused, it was treated as an invitation to assault and demean them; and for those for whom rape was seen as necessary and corrective.

It's time for justice.

Jaevion Nelson

Executive Director at

J-FLAG