ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith's token suspension for making comments that implied that victims of abuse be held accountable for said abuse is over now, and he can get back to being "provocative". Which, by the way, remember, women aren't allowed to do. Smith's position was not only appalling on its own merits; Smith has a history of victim blaming. Yes, years before the Ray Rice suspension, Smith was making similarly disgusting comments about domestic violence.
Following Chad Johnson's highly publicized battery charge in 2012, Smith began a smear campaign against his wife Evelyn, suggesting that she may have provoked the star to violence (via USA Today):
"There are plenty of instances where provocation comes into consideration, instigation comes into consideration, and I will be on the record right here on national television and say that I am sick and tired of men constantly being vilified and accused of things and we stop there."
What's worse than Smith's flip-flopping verbal ballet is that he's not a lone nut. Smith represents an institutional view of the status quo- the accepted power dynamic between men and women per the patriarchy.
He even has vocal supporters other than the Right Wing Radio guys (via CNN):
"For even suggesting that there could be provocation before a fight, Smith is now off the air. Mind you, Smith never tried to justify Rice's actions. Once the outcry began, Smith rushed to apologize."
It's not rocket science. The reason you can't suggest that an abuse victim provoked their abuser is that as soon as you suggest that someone was provoked, you lend credence to their actions, no matter how many times you say "it's not ok to hit a woman." As soon as you try to justify or explain violent behavior, you are automatically condoning it.
As long as violence against women is tacitly condoned, people like Stephen A. Smith will be allowed to publicly blame women for the hate crimes committed against them. And a one-week suspension is not going to send any messages.
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