Never be able to work again?

I think all Downunderites will know of a certain person who alleges she was raped in the office of a government minister. This allegedly happened after hours and the minister was not involved. 

The experience was said to be so traumatic the incoming government gave her a very large sum in compensation because, so it was claimed, she would never be able to work again. Curiously (or perhaps not so curiously) she now has another job. It has taken four years but she now has a role as the director of public affairs for a public relations company. 

This is surely a role where she will need to be in a "public" role most of the time. There will not be any hiding in the office. She will have to deal with people, all sorts of people.

Perhaps all this is legitimate. I have no idea. I have never met her. I am unlikely to do so. Her case was never settled in court. It was said the potential damage to her mental health would be too great for it to continue.

I also know of two rape victims, both of them at work by people in positions much more powerful than their own. Neither of them received any compensation. In both instances the mental harm done was immense, especially as they lost their jobs. Both of them took on much more menial roles and still look over their shoulders. They have not "recovered" but they have perhaps learned to live with the trauma.  I know these two people well and I would not wish their lives or mental health on anyone.

One of them left me a message this morning and asked, "How has she done it? How can she do a job like that?" 

I have no answer to that but I wonder too. There are plenty of conspiracy like theories flying around. The male involved has been made out to be a serial rapist. There are other charges he must now face but they have not been proven or disproven. He has no paid employment but has apparently been trusted enough to care for children of friends. That seems strange but they apparently trust him.

It will be interesting to see how this person who was said to be unfit for employment ever again will cope with what is likely to be an at least somewhat stressful position. Will she cope? If she does not then will it be blamed on the alleged rape or will it be because she is not able to handle the role?