16-Year-Old Girl Imprisoned and Repeatedly Raped for Weeks

by Alex DiBranco · 2010-01-04 19:30:00 UTC
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As understatements go, the headline "Teenager accused of slapping rape victim" ranks up there. Accurate? Yes. Missing the horror of the situation? A little bit.

The 16-year-old victim was trafficked from Mexico by Benito Vargas, 23, held against her will, abused, and repeatedly raped at his San Juan home over about three weeks. Apparently the rapist's 17-year-old sister Belen was present during the actual assaults, since the Brownsville Herald reports that when the victim begged for help she was mocked and warned "not to become pregnant" by the other teenager. Belen has been arrested for at some point slapping the victim -- and, because this is a real family affair, the police also picked up her mother for "idly standing by" and neglecting to report the felony occurring in her house.

The teenager's mocking reminds me of another fairly recent rape situation -- the much-publicized gang rape of a high school student outside of a homecoming dance in California. An ABC News article headlines "No One Called Cops During Gang Rape, But Some Took Pictures." As many as ten students watched as the 15-year-old was raped for two hours, without lifting a finger to dial 911 or raising a cry for help. There is no way to hold them accountable in the criminal justice system. While the impact of the bystander effect has been raised, in which more witnesses dilutes the responsibility each feels, our culture's laxity in sending a firm message condemning rape and violence against women plays a significant role.

After all, when violence against women is a sure-fire way to boost TV ratings, it's clear that many people find attacks on women highly entertaining. So how do we get across the message that this isn't a laughing matter?

Photo courtesy of USB's Flickr photostream.

Alex DiBranco is a Change.org Editor who has worked for the Nation, Political Research Associates, and the Center for American Progress. She is now based in New York City.
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