Jane Doe of WV raped in Steubenville OH,
My name is Beth I am a 25 years old I live in WV. In 2007 one of my best friends on again off again boyfriend raped me. I was passed out and only remember bits and pieces of what happened but I know he raped me and he helped me to bed kissed my forehead and whispered “I didn’t rape you you said it was ok” before I could protest I blacked out again. I was drugged and raped at a party with all my friends by someone I thought I could trust with my life. I am one of the many survivors that didn’t report I am one of many who blamed myself for doing everything I knew I shouldn’t do like leaving my drink when I went to the restroom but like I said I trusted him with my life. I blamed myself for trusting him, I blamed myself for trusting my other friends to watch my back. I was in denial about the truth for along time I thought maybe I did say it was ok but I didn’t feel like I said it was ok and even if I had I was passed out and completely disoriented to the point where I still can’t put that night completely together or the following day for that matter. I confronted him and he said he did it and he would do it again if he could then he said he was sorry which he does send sorry messages to me randomly to this day. He says he deserves my forgiveness and he has changed wants to be friends wants to get back together. He does not deserve my forgiveness he deserves to be sitting in jail he deserves to be ran over with my car he deserves to be miserable for the rest of his life but because I didn’t report it because I knew it would be covered up by the city because I was “just another girl from the projects who was asking for it”. He has a good job, a family and still goes out to parties where girls will be. I have put the word out he is not to be trusted to my friends who warn their sisters and friends what he did to me hopefully saving another girl from being in that situation with him. I was told by some friends I was “asking for it” that I “deserved it” that I was “just like the other girls from the projects looking to blame some guy with money to get hush money” I didn’t report my assault I was being blamed by my friends and I knew the cops would do the same from other girls experiences with them and the way I was treated because I was a girl from the projects.
Jane Doe I don’t know much about you personally, like where you grew up or your families financial status but none of that matters we are bonded together with the millions of women who have been raped. We all know how you feel, you are not alone. Sadly we live in a world where people see or know something is happening and no one comes to your rescue, where girls and women have to constantly watch for suspicious activity even from friends. Sadly we live in a world where football players and their friends think they can do whatever they want because they are treated like heroes. You Jane Doe are the hero, you survived and you pressed charges. I want you to know you are the hero you are a strong smart beautiful powerful young woman don’t ever let anyone make you feel less than that. Remember no matter what anyone says you did nothing wrong you did not ruin anyone’s lives they did that to themselves when they made the choice to rape you.
To all survivors keep your head up you are a hero you are strong and you are beautiful stay strong sisters,
Beth Dortch
I am an unofficial student meaning I am not enrolled in school but I am surrounded by very educated organizers from many different movements who have lived history and have accepted me as a student and young leader.
