CONSTRUCTING A SHEEP: a beginner’s guide
Constructing A Sheep is a reflection on trust and violation. It examines some of the language and justifications used to proactively invalidate accusations of sexual assault by portraying the alleged perpetrator as sympathetic, blameless, and incapable of harm, while the alleged victim is assumed to have ulterior motives or to lack credibility. It’s important to recognize that people of all genders are capable of sexually assaulting others, being assaulted themselves, and weaponizing accusations. This work does not condone or encourage, under any circumstance, the assumption of guilt based solely on someone’s gender, or any other identifier. It does, however, examine and criticize the automatic denial of the mere possibility of harm from a gendered lens.
This is a story about someone you know.
