Jessica Valenti On The Stanford Sexual Assault Case And Feminism Now

Outrage over the lenient sentence for a Stanford swimmer convicted of sexual assault. Feminist Jessica Valenti weighs in on the case and talks about her memoir, “Sex Object.”

The shorthand now that everybody knows is “the Stanford rape case.” The sexual assault on an unconscious woman behind a dumpster in California that got a star Stanford swimmer just six months in jail and the rage of millions. His victim told her story in a 12-page statement so excruciating, so compelling, that people are really sitting down and reading the whole thing. Feminist Jessica Valenti is reading it too. This hour On Point, Jessica Valenti on the Stanford case, victimhood, and her latest take – “Sex Object.” — Tom Ashbrook

Ema O'Connor, reporter for BuzzFeed News. (@o_ema)

Jessica Valenti, columnist and staff writer for the Guardian U.S. Founder of Feministing.com. Author of the new memoir, "Sex Object." Also author of "Full Frontal Feminism," "He's a Stud, She's a Slut and 49 Other Double Standards Every Woman Should Know" and "The Purity Myth." (@JessicaValenti)

BuzzFeed News: Here Is The Powerful Letter The Stanford Victim Read Aloud To Her Attacker — "Your Honor, if it is all right, for the majority of this statement I would like to address the defendant directly.
You don’t know me, but you’ve been inside me, and that’s why we’re here today."

The Guardian: To Brock Turner's victim: know this – we are with you — "Her statement, which I encourage everyone to read in full, is a damning indictment of a culture that bends over backwards to humanize rapists while demonizing their victims. Especially when you consider that Turner, who was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault, was sentenced to only six months in a county jail because the judge thought real prison time would have a “severe impact” on a once promising college athlete."

New York Times: Light Sentence for Brock Turner in Stanford Rape Case Draws Outrage — "A recall effort against a California judge was announced on Monday in a sexual assault case at Stanford University that ignited public outrage after the defendant was sentenced to a mere six months in jail and his father complained that his son’s life had been ruined for '20 minutes of action' fueled by alcohol and promiscuity."