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Film Analysis: It Was Rape

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It Was Rape is a powerful documentary film created by Jennifer Baumgardner. The film explores the often silenced issue of sexual assault and dives into the experiences of survivors, providing a platform for their stories and shedding light on the emotional, and societal aftermath of sexual violence. Annie W.'s line stood out to me as very applicable everywhere: “God bless women’s studies”. Because Annie studied what sexual violence is and how it affects individuals, she understood that her experience with her father was a form of abuse. This quote serves as a reminder of the power of education and the value of having a space to discuss the realities of sexual violence. It highlights the importance of having a platform to discuss and share …show more content…

The film acknowledges the intersectionality of sexual assault by featuring stories from survivors of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. By doing so, it highlights the unique challenges faced by marginalized communities. Lisa Brunner, a Native American woman, spoke about the abuse she experienced as a child. She also spoke about sexual abuse against Native American women as a whole. Brunner provided statistics to show the cruelty Native American individuals face with sexual assault. Not only is the statute of limitations one year shorter than that of non-Native American individuals, but 1 in 3 Native women will likely be sexually assaulted in their lifetime. Brunner also says this statistic is more likely that almost every Native woman will be sexually assaulted. This statistic is based upon reports of this crime, and if the majority of these assaults aren’t reported, the accuracy of this number is decreased. The underreporting of sexual assaults to law enforcement means that the true number of assaults on Native women is almost certainly much higher than reported, contributing to a dangerous lack of recognition and justice for these victims. Baumgardner's documentary addresses the systemic biases and prejudices that can impact how survivors of different racial and ethnic backgrounds are perceived, believed, and supported within society and the criminal justice system. This approach contributes to a broader understanding of how race and ethnicity intersect with sexual

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