After appearing on Dancing With the Stars and continuing to run around the country preaching abstinence (as a 20-year-old mother to a 2-year-old no less), Bristol Palin's new book Not Afraid of My Life: My Journey So Far is clearly a cry for attention. But some people are concerned that it's a far too genuine cry for attention. Why else would she have written about losing her V-card to Levi Johnston in such negative terms?
Specifically, she says their first time having sex happened after she surrendered to the "woozy charms" of wine coolers and passed out drunk. Later, she found out she'd had sex for the first time, claiming that she felt she hadn't lost her virginity -- it had been "stolen." Dun dun daaahh. Cue the sirens. Sounds like a crime that isn't been called out as such until now, right?
Although I'm hesitant to label -- or in this case, not label -- another woman's sexual experience, I don't think it's right that we call what happened to Bristol "date rape" or "rape."
Why? Because her motives are questionable. It just seems too convenient that all of a sudden, in what appears to be a push for a few more minutes of fame and money, she's alluding to being raped by the father of her son. She's becoming a mini-queen of publicity stunts -- remind you of anyone else? -- and exaggerating or over-dramatizing what happened with Levi would be perfectly in line with the rest of her claims in the book. (Like how Meghan McCain is, like, so annoying!)
Furthermore, if it truly had been date rape, why did she wait until now to blow the whistle? Her mother was the Governor of Alaska. She could have made sure Levi's butt was kicked in court, or being that they were minors, maybe at least his wrist could have been slapped in another formal way.
But no. The guy who "stole her virginity" went on to become her baby daddy and then her FIANCE. Father of her child is one thing ... but she was going to marry this guy. Maybe just to keep up appearances, but whatever. This isn't 1962. Bristol Palin is not Joan Holloway. If a guy rapes you, or you even suspect that he raped you, you don't say "yes" when he pops the question.
In the end, it feels like an insult and an injustice to women who have truly suffered through rape to give what happened to Bristol the same name. What it sounds like to me is that she got drunk, had sex for the first time, felt ashamed because she didn't remember it, and a few years later, wants to make more of it to hold onto her flailing C-list celebrity status and smear her son's father at the same time. Let's not make more of it than it really is.
Do you think it's right to call what happened to Bristol "date rape"?
Image via Amazon
This Hot Dad Wants to Do Your Ironing
KStew Refuses to Shower
This Hot Dad Wants to Cook You Dinner
This Hot Dad Cooks AND Does the Dishes
Comments 91
I guess I'm not a "real" victim either. I lost my virginity while drunk with a guy who was my friend for over a year. It took years for me to admit to myself that yes indeed it was rape! I didn't ask for it, didn't participate in it, and barely remembered it. I felt such guilt that it happened that I actually tricked myself into believing that I must have had feelings for him b/c I "let" it happen. I was 15 at the time. As a grown women now, I see it for what it really was "RAPE". Shame on you for doubting any women ( I don't care who it is ) for feels that they were raped.
Maybe the reason she didn't say anything until now because of this post? If everyone insists that what happened to her wasn't date rape, although if it happened to anyone else it probably would be, why would she label it as such? When everyone insists that because she was drunk it wasn't rape, it was just poor decision making, why would she come forward? You really think that your words will help the "real" victims? They see her getting villified for telling her story and how likely do you think they'll be comforted by that? Oh, that happened to me too, I guess it isn't date rape even though I feel like filth because of it. Ever think that because you don't like her you don't want to accept that it's true and if it true you'll actually have to feel something other than dislike for her, like I don't know...empathy?
Vindictive much?? If this were anyone other than a Palin, you'd have a completely different perspective, MB. Shame on you, ridiculing anyone for sharing a story like that.
Date rape isn't real?!? Seriously, are there no limits to the depths you will sink to in order to rip apart the Palin family? You are pathetic!!
I agree with both billsfan and hoticedcoffee. They put into words exactly what I was thinking.
Ok, so what is her story? I did not see you actually tell it. Rape is rape. No means no! If you are intoxicated, then you cannot consent and are thusly raped. However, if both parties are intoxicated, then it is not rape because neither can consent. I also know a few rape victims (real rape victims by your standards, they were brutally raped) who also went on to have steady relationships with their rapists after the rape due to fear.
Throwing chum over the side much? Let Bristol ilucidate us. All she said was "stolen." Stop putting words where they don't belong, and on such a sensitive issue to many. Everyone else needs to stop overreacting; it just plays into the hands of bloggers inciting frenzies of misguided comments and page views for profit.
WOW!!!! once again the stir blog prove to be a bunch of BS. Seriously? Women are RAPED AND ABUSED and STILL marry that guy who hurt them. Just because sarah palin i her mother doent make her immune to these thing. you're a putz.