Doctor Ford
Oil on wood panel, 18x24in.
Doctor Ford text: “I was pushed onto the bed and Brett got on top of me. He began running his hands over my body and grinding his hips into me. I yelled, hoping someone downstairs might hear me, and tried to get away from him, but his weight was heavy. Brett groped me and tried to take off my clothes. He had a hard time because he was so drunk, and because I was wearing a one-piece bathing suit under my clothes. I believed he was going to rape me. I tried to yell for help. When I did, Brett put his hand over my mouth to stop me from screaming. This was what terrified me the most, and has had the most lasting impact on my life. It was hard for me to breathe, and I thought that Brett was accidentally going to kill me. Both Brett and Mark were drunkenly laughing during the attack. They both seemed to be having a good time.”
- Dr. Christine Blasey Ford's Opening Statement for Senate Hearing Testimony, Sept 27th, 2018.
Many women have had experiences like the one Dr. Ford described. One would think the response to such an accusation would be swift and justly severe. Surely, someone who would treat a woman so unjustly has no place on the Supreme Court, but apparently Kavanaugh’s frantic, angry, and apparent defense of liking beer excused him from such a strict treatment. Unfortunately, this is often the response given to women who, with courage to come forward, describe their experiences like this. They’re met with disbelief, or the behavior is excused because the boys will be boys. Right? Ford’s words should have mattered here and it is unbelievable that they did not.
Donations from this piece, and it's twin piece, "Honorable" Brett, will go to Time’s Up.