KBR Lawyers Trying to Shame Jamie Leigh Jones

From the Finally, Feminism 101 Blog.

Slut-shaming, also known as slut-bashing, is the idea of shaming and/or attacking a woman or a girl for being sexual, having one or more sexual partners, acknowledging sexual feelings, and/or acting on sexual feelings. Furthermore, it’s “about the implication that if a woman has sex that traditional society disapproves of, she should feel guilty and inferior” (Alon Levy, Slut Shaming). It is damaging not only to the girls and women targeted, but to women in general an society as a whole. It should be noted that slut-shaming can occur even if the term “slut” itself is not used.

That is the tactic KBR, Inc. is using against Jamie Leigh Jones. Common decency would be to admit a horrible rape had happened and pay compensation. Instead, KBR would rather endure negative publicity and have an ugly drawn out court fight. KBR issued this statement.

In a statement, a spokeswoman for KBR said the company is proud of its work in Iraq, takes employee safety "very seriously" and looks forward to establishing the true facts of Jones's claims at trial.

"Ms. Jones and her lawyers have made many different and varied assertions," said the spokesperson. "Ms. Jones and her counsel are not what they claim and KBR is not what they assert."

KBR's attorneys presented evidence that Jones has a history of taking anti-depressant medication. There are millions of Americans that take anti-depressants to deal with medical needs. Former Florida Gov. Lawton Chiles took Prozac. Chiles' medical needs did not affect his ability to be a good governor. It would not surprise me if Jones was taking anti-depressant medication because of her sexual assault in Iraq. The issue is was Jones raped not what pills she is taking.