Title: A Reflection on the History of Sexual Assault Laws in the United States - The Arkansas Journal of Social Change and Public Service
Headings: A Reflection on the History of Sexual Assault Laws in the United States
A Reflection on the History of Sexual Assault Laws in the United States
A Reflection on the History of Sexual Assault Laws in the United States.

Content: A Reflection on the History of Sexual Assault Laws in the United States - The Arkansas Journal of Social Change and Public Service
A Reflection on the History of Sexual Assault Laws in the United States
APRIL 15, 2018
A Reflection on the History of Sexual Assault Laws in the United States. by Kyla Bishop
The views expressed in this post are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect views of the Journal, the William H. Bowen School of Law, or UA Little Rock. April has been designated “Sexual Assault Awareness Month” in the United States since 2001. Sexual assault and harassment have consistently made the headlines in recent months, from President Trump’s “ grab them by the pu**y ” comment to the avalanche of assault accusations against Harvey Weinstein. At the forefront has been the #MeToo movement, with woman after woman, including famous and respected actresses, sharing their stories of sexual assault. What was once swept under the rug is now the hammer being used to shatter the stigma of sexual assault. Crumbling too is the sense of security once felt by sexual predators. As the #MeToo movement has gained popularity, companies and employers have rushed to disassociate themselves with men accused of sexual misconduct. In November 2017, NBC fired its “crown jewel” Matt Lauer after a two-month investigation into several claims of sexual harassment by female staffers. So too was Kevin Spacey fired from Netflix’s hit original series “House of Cards” after actor Anthony Rapp alleged that Spacey made unwanted sexual advances towards him when he was only 14.