Since the beginning of 2018, there has been an outburst of awareness about the oppressive patriarchies that have abused women and other minorities for generations and generations. This has been evident with the Harvey Weinstein scandal and the countless other bigshot Hollywood A-listers that have been targeted and tarnished. However, one might ask if this is truly only an elitist movement. Celebrities do have the attention and influence necessary to bring any issue to the public sphere with a simple tweet or Instagram post. However, the Larry Nassar scandal hits closer to home for many, as the notorious former gymnastics doctor and forevermore pedophile put young girls, children, into a cycle of abuse that many survivors did not have the resources or influence to stand out- until now.
In court a couple weeks ago, Larry Nassar was sentenced to 40 to 125 years in prison: a federal charge for child pornography and several counts of sexual abuse. This was the culmination of years of abuse and several weeks of emotional and heartfelt testimonies which graphically brought to life only a sliver of the feeling (for us viewers) what it must have been like to be subject to years of abuse. Nassar attempted to apologize in court saying that “it is impossible to convey the depth and breadth of how sorry I am to each and everyone involved. The visions of your testimonies will forever be present in my thoughts”. However, the court was not convinced of Nassar’s integrity, as Judge Cunningham commented, “I am not convinced that you truly understand that what you did was wrong and the devastating impact you've had on the victims, family and friends”. The impact was obvious from the many testimonies and reactions from Olympic medalist Aly Raisman’s defiant speech to a gymnast’s father’s justified attempted attack on Nassar.
Until a few years ago, Nassar was widely respected for his ‘effective’ treatments. However, complaints have been made against Nassar since 2014, such as Amanda Thomashow complaint to Michigan State (where Nassar was employed) that his ‘treatments’ were really sexual abuse. However, hers and many others comments and concerns were brushed aside because Nassar was such a respected doctor. The organizations might as well have been calling these girls liars, hundreds of them. Finally in November of 2016, Nassar was arrested and was first put on trial. Some have the justice they were seeking, as Nassar is finally put in prison for life. Others wonder why it took so long for him to be arrested. Although USA gymnastics and Michigan State deny covering up Nassar’s abuse, one must wonder how all of the gymnasts’ complaints were brushed aside, and how Nassar was allowed to stay in power for so long.
Written By: Nayiri Artounians
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