In the wake of countless sexual misconduct scandals, there’s no denying that our country is in the throes of a cultural reckoning when it comes to matters of sex and consent. But what about after an assault is reported and dealt with legally? If Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney is any indication, a survivor’s struggle doesn’t end there.
This fall, Maroney came forward about having been repeatedly molested by the Olympic team’s doctor, Larry Nassar. USA Gymnastics went public with their support, but a lawsuit she filed on Wednesday indicates that it was all for the cameras, so to speak. In the suit, Maroney alleges that the organization tried to buy her silence by forcing her to sign a non-disclosure agreement as part of her financial settlement, which she was using to pay for psychological treatment. Oh, there’s also the fact that Nassar has since plead guilty to molesting ten girls, and to possession of child pornography. I can’t.
Non-disclosure agreements are nothing new, especially in suits that are settled out of court. However, in the realm of sexual misconduct, this cloak-and-dagger bullshit only serves to help perpetuate a culture of assault. Furthermore, with all these high-profile cases, it becomes far too easy to forget about those women without a public platform or resources, suffering in silence. As Maroney’s lawer notes, “If [USA Gymnastics] would treat one of the most famous athletes in world like this, how poorly would they treat a recreational gymnast abused by her coach."
