Taylor Swift's Sexual Assault Case Victory Will Encourage Other Victims To Step Forward

Taylor Swift as an artist, more often than not, makes me dance around my kitchen. Taylor Swift as a feminist, more often than not, makes me cringe and grimace. To call her way of feminism problematic is quite an understatement, but her well-publicised victory in court deserves its credit where it's due.

In 2013, DJ David Mueller allegedly put his hand up Swift's skirt and grabbed her ass, refusing to let go during a photo op. After reporting him, Mueller lost his job, and he sought out to sue her due to him losing his job. In response, whilst he maintained his innocence, Swift countersued, and the pair ended up in court recently.

This week, the court ruled that a symbolic $1 compensation was to be paid to Swift, and the lesson that comes from the case is an important one for those who have suffered from sexual assault in any way.

'The gist of what I was saying is that somebody of prominence and notoriety - a wonderful person - but somebody we all know, has now stood up and said, "this is where the line is",' said Swift's attorney, Douglas Baldridge as he left court. 'It gives courage and inspiration to all people, not just women, but to all people to have the courage to draw lines and to know where those lines are; the lines of mutual respect between people. Boys need to know, girls need to know, women, men - everyone. It's a matter of respect and decency and until somebody draws that line and resets the dice, we don't all know and she did that. She did that. Taylor Swift did that. None of us did that.'

He was right in that someone as high profile as Swift pressing charges against someone would be massively influential for those lacking in confidence to do the same. Sexual assault is a real issue within society - not only towards cisgender women, but towards trans women, those who identify as non-binary, and men too - and very few victims speak out about it or report the assault.

There have been lots of reports surrounding the case, but here's some of our favourite take-no-shit moments from T-Swift:

1) 'Because my ass is located at the back of my body.' - Swift's response when attorney Gabriel McFarland said that, in a photo where the incident was taking place, her skirt didn't appear disturbed at the front.

2) 'I am not going to allow your client to make me feel like it is any way my fault, because it isn't.'

3) 'Other than grabbing my ass against my will, underneath my skirt, and refusing to let go, he did not otherwise touch me inappropriately.' - when Swift was asked if she'd been groped more than once.

4) When criticism was directed towards her bodyguards (which she completely refused), Swift pointed out to Mueller's lawyer that she was critical of his client for 'sticking his hand under my skirt and grabbing my ass'.

5) 'I'm being blamed for the unfortunate events of his life that are a product of his decisions. Not mine.'