Taylor Swift performs at Westfield Shepherd's Bush, London. (Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com)
In the past few days, 10-time Grammy Award winner Taylor Swift was all over the news, but because of her extremely successful musical career. The reason for all the media attention was an incident in 2013, in which the then-23-year-old was groped during a photo-op with local radio host David Mueller after a concert in Denver, Colorado.
Swift's team reported the incident to Mueller's bosses, who decided to let the DJ go. Two years later, instead of taking responsibility for his actions, Mueller sued Swift for $3 million in damages. The 27-year-old, however, refused to back down and countersued Mueller, seeking a symbolic $1. On August 15, 2017 she won the case.
The extremely high-profile nature of Swift's case makes this powerful verdict even more important and the reasons are as inspiring as Swift herself:
1. HER CASE MIGHT INSPIRE MORE WOMEN TO REPORT SEXUAL ASSAULT
According to various statistic, around two-thirds of all sexual assaults go unreported for a multitude of reaons. Whether it's shame, fear of repercussions, or trauma, nothing should ever stop a victim of sexual assault from having the courage to stand up for themselves.
Swift's case proves that this can happen to virtually anyone and by standing up and speaking out, Swift is showing everyone that sexual assault is never okay, no matter who the people involved are. Swift's courage sends the clear message that sexual assault is always a big deal and gives survivors everywhere the confidence to stand up for themselves.
2. SHE DIDN'T LET HERSELF BE SHAMED
One of the most common responses when victims of sexual assault tell their stories is the assumption that they somehow may have had a part in what happened to them because of the way they acted or dressed. Mueller's lawyers tried to use similar tactics in court and Swift was having none of it. She confidently responded to every insinuation and attempt by Mueller's legal team to undermine her case: "I am not going to allow your client to make me feel like it is any way my fault, because it isn’t."
3. HER CASE GIVES A VOICE TO ALL WOMEN WHO REMAINED QUIET
Swift is lucky enough be in a financial position where she didn't have to worry about the often exorbitant legal costs of such cases or even the prospect of losing and having to compensate her attacker. This put her in an unusually powerful position that most victims of sexual assault will never be in.
Immediately after the court's verdict, Swift issued a statement thanking her attorneys "for fighting for me and anyone who feels silenced by a sexual assault. My hope is to help those whose voices should also be heard," she said.
Nancy Leong, a University of Denver law professor agrees with Swift,
and believes that her case will inspire more survivors of sexual assault to come forward. "The fact that she was believed will allow women to understand that they will not automatically be disbelieved, and I think that's a good thing," Leong said.
