Americans owe Jackie Marris and Tamara Brooks a thank you for helping all of us cope with the terrible crimes against them earlier this month.
Soon after the two California teens were rescued from their abductor who had raped them and was close to killing them, Marris was on the television news discussing the ordeal. At first, her appearance was a bit jarring considering the circumstances. But it didn’t take long to see that Marris, 17, was an articulate and courageous young woman. Brooks, 16, joined her for other interviews shortly after that.
The two have received almost as much attention for what they haven’t said as for what they have told reporters. Neither one has mentioned the word rape. They shouldn’t have to. We don’t need every single detail of this story. People know what happened and these young women are well aware of that. They don’t have to discuss it with America if they don’t want to. The fact that they’re showing people everywhere how women can overcome such violent acts speaks for itself.
Much has been said and written about how Marris and Brooks’ candor has removed the stigma of shame surrounding rape — the questioning of the victim’s integrity or implied blame for the crime. But they’ve done even more than that. Their composed openness has defied another stigma that often goes unmentioned: the one that says a woman who is raped is somehow incomplete or that her life is ruined.
Marris and Brooks are anything but ruined. Whether other victims choose to speak publicly about their ordeal or remain silent with the media, they will have these two young women to look to as examples of courage, hope and healing. And that will lead them to other survivors who have accomplished the same things but haven’t received the same level of media attention.
Someday, possibly sooner than later, Marris and Brooks will want to step back into some sort of private life and continue their personal healing. We can continue to learn from them by respecting their wishes.
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