Is the Legal System Making it Harder for Sex Assault Victims to Speak Up?

The “Tik Tok” singer Kesha announces that her legal battle is bigger than herself.
 
The New York Supreme Court denied Kesha’s request for a preliminary injunction, trapping her in her contract with Sony.
 
This long-running legal dispute with Kesha and her alleged abuser shines a light on the struggle of abuse victims coming forward.
 
“They may not feel as if they have enough control over the situation to come forward and report the assault,” says Doctor Brian Moe of Family Institute in Fargo.
 
Doctor Moe says this can happen when a person has been abused, especially over a long period of time.

The once glitter queen, Kesha, filed a lawsuit against her producer Doctor Luke on claims of sexually, physically and mentally abusing her for nearly a decade.

After the court ruling, support came pouring in from not only Hollywood but from fans across the nation.
 
“I think it’s sad that she still has to work with the guy still. But it’s really great that she has so many people supporting her and backing her up,” says NDSU’s Amber Pliscott.

Kesha posted on her Facebook that this issue is bigger than her:

“I think about young girls today-I don’t want my future daughter- or your daughter or any person to be afraid that they will be punished if they speak out about being abused, especially if their abuser is in a position of power.”

With the high court striking down Kesha’s request, does this discourage victims?

Lindsay Simonds of NDSU adds, “I feel like that’s definitely going to be a thought that’s going through somebody’s head is that it’s not worth it to come forward because you’re not going to get justice or results.”
 
“As a society we really do need to come to a point when someone is assaulted that we don’t default to the victim blaming mentality. They didn’t choose to be assaulted,” says Moe.
  
Law Enforcement says the top three things you should do if you are sexually abused is to first find a safe place, weather this be at a hospital or your home.

Second, is to report the incident as soon as possible.

And third, don’t degrade the evidence by showering or washing your clothes until after officials file a report.