Trigger warning: This story discusses rape and sexual assault. It also contains spoilers for "American Crime."
I'm frustrated. "American Crime" is testing my patience. After last night's episode, we still know little about the alleged sexual assault. And with police and reporters asking questions, people are starting to panic.
But there is one central question being asked thematically through this episode: Who can be raped?
The big news at Leyland was an article that named Kevin LaCroix (because he is 18, a legal adult) as the host of the party where the alleged assault took place. Naturally, the article spurs speculation and gossip about his involvement. It's important to note that I use the word "alleged" because, as viewers, we legitimately have no idea what happened or what evidence exists. I am not attempting to diminish Taylor's accusation or traumatic experience -- something clearly happened to him.
In a scene where we are given the most insight into Taylor's feelings following the Captains' Party and his suspension, he blows off steam in a counseling session. And it's this scene that tries my patience. Taylor doesn't feel like anyone believes him, and he wishes he never opened his mouth. That mirrors how society treats women, or anyone who reports that they have been sexually assaulted.
Taylor says, "People lose their minds when something happened to a girl. They have rights supporting them. They have lesbians out hating men. But a guy? ... I put a mattress on my back and carry it around, you think they're going to put me on TV?" The point that boys are not believed -- that society thinks rape is a "women's issue" -- did not have to come at the expense of women, but that's what happened in this scene.
I almost threw my TV across the room.
I get it. Taylor is hurt. He's internalizing the pressures of masculinity and lashing out at women. He just wants people to believe him. I want that for him.
At its core, "American Crime" forces viewers to confront their own skepticism as well as society's when it comes to sexual assault. We don't like to talk about sexual assault; we don't like to believe it happens. Instead of this scene making that point, I found it to be very gendered. Taylor's resentment comes across as not being directed at the system that is failing him, but rather at female sexual assault victims.
Since Taylor's rant happens in counseling, he is of course allowed to feel in an unbridled manner. I am happy that he is opening up, and I truly think those feelings of resentment come across as authentic, even if I think they are misplaced. My complaint about the direction of this storyline has nothing to do with Taylor; it is about the writing. I love this show, but I was disappointed in how this scene was handled, especially when compared to the LaCroixs finding out about the report of sexual assault coming from a young man.
Terri and Michael are told by a friend in the police department (Ken) that victim is male. Terri's first reaction is "That didn't happen. It didn't happen because boys don't get raped. First of all, boys don't do that to other boys. Boys fight back. Are they even taking this seriously?"
Her statement gets at the core of Taylor's feelings. No one thinks boys can be raped. The police were skeptical when Anne told them Taylor's story. Leslie is skeptical. Terri is skeptical. Not once has someone other than Taylor's mother looked him in the eye to tell him they believe him.
Right now, I feel like the lesson I'm supposed to take away from this episode is that no one believes Taylor because he is a guy and that is unfair because we do believe women. I would argue that we don't believe women either, and I'm hoping that point gets made in a future episode.
Lines That Haunt Me
"I put a mattress on my back and carry it around, you think they're going to put me on TV?" -- Taylor Blaine
"I just want it to be over." -- Taylor Blaine
"Look at public school; they got the best b----s. They got Latinas, Blacks, Asians. All they got at Leyland is pasty white girls. Asian girls have the best babies anyhow." -- Eric Tanner
"Sexual assault is the hardest crime to prosecute. Most of these cases don't move forward." -- Officer Ken
Catch new episodes of "American Crime" Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.
Katie Barnes is a digital media associate at ESPN. Follow them on Twitter at Katie_Barnes3.