Laurie Ann Martinez: Shame, shame on you!

On Saturday, December 10^th, The Palm Beach Post carried an Associated Press story headlined “Psychologist accused of faking rape.” The article detailed the efforts of Laurie Ann Martinez, a psychologist for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, who battered herself and then reported that she had been raped by an unknown assailant. Why? To convince her husband to move to a safer neighborhood.

Intentionally accusing a man, even an unknown man, of rape out of greed, revenge or the desire to live somewhere better hinders efforts to enact legislative change. Many lawmakers still need to be convinced that rape is a serious and life threatening crime – a crime that needs to be punished severely. As the parent of a rape victim and as an advocate for victims of sexual assault, I find such tactics almost as heinous as the crime of rape itself.

By lying, women are further victimizing those who have already faced the terror of assault.  Lying corrodes the still shaky foundation that has been set in place to make society aware that rape is not about sex and that the victim is not – never, ever – at fault. Unfortunately, if just one woman is found to be lying, credence is given to the mindset that all women lie! As a mental health professional, Martinez is well aware of the stigma of rape and the life-long trauma suffered by rape victims, so her actions are even more despicable.

If ever there was a club no woman aspires to join, survivors of sexual assault is it. Those who are forced onto its roster need to hold strong against anyone who would undermine their progress. That includes other women who use the (false) accusation of rape for their own gains. Laurie Ann Martinez is a disgrace to her gender and to her profession.

http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-12-10/news/30500316_1_prison-psycho...