This isn't a political issue. Any political comments will be removed without regard to who they came from. I am just telling my story.
I was 17 when I was attacked in pretty much the same way as Dr. Ford except there was no drinking involved. Did I report it? No, I was scared and at that time, little would have been done to him anyway. It was one of the most terrifying moments in my life which lead to weeks of not sleeping and a lifetime of distrust. Woman don't think like men, we never will. When will men get it that they have NO right to lay their hands on ANY woman without her permission? I don't care what she is wearing, saying, doing, or what he thinks she is doing, a man has no right to touch a woman without her permission. Just because he didn't get all the way with her, does not mean that it wasn't a valid attack. NO MEANS NO! There are NO exceptions.
I still remember that day very vividly and, unfortunately, think of it often. I cried for weeks after, late at night, when no one would hear. I did nothing wrong yet I felt like I was the one that should have been ashamed. I never dressed suggestively, said anything suggestive, or even hinted that I would be interested in him in any way. It was just that he felt he had the right to do whatever he wanted to me. There was another male in the room whose name I will not mention that sat and did nothing but watch. This male should have been my protector but did nothing of the sort which hurt even more because of the nature of our relationship. To this day, I am sure that he would deny it. No one would be shocked by that.
This is the kind of stuff that affects every relationship that comes after it. That is why it is important today. None of my relationships have been untouched by this experience.
Men don't think like women, they never will. Women are emotional creatures and there is great beauty in that. But when something emotionally traumatic like this happens, rarely can it be fully recovered from without affecting life later down the road. It is a big deal that she was attacked. Maybe not to you, but to her, it was life-altering, just as it was for me.
More women need to share their stories. The men in our lives deserve to know. Maybe if more men realized how messed up events like this make us, they can teach our boys how to be good men and to treat women with the respect they deserve.