My father sent me an email this morning:
“go to abc news night line wed. (11/09/11) go to the Angie Varona story. dad”
I knew it would be somehow connected to my case and the lobbying efforts I have begun, so I Googled it and read her story.
This is why I am fighting. While there is debate over her intentions – she uploaded the pictures to a public site (Photo Bucket), the pictures were in circulation for three years – the bottom line is this, she is a victim. What started as an all-too-common practice, a very sad practice that is destroying our adolescent girls, of showcasing her body via electronic means, exploded into harassment, stalking, exploitation and victimization.
That’s what matters. That is the only thing that matters. A young girl, following a dangerous yet wildly popular social trend, in that adolescent mindset that believes they are invincible, has been tortured.
And it seems that laws couldn’t help her. I say seems because I haven’t researched the full story to learn what legal means she has pursued. My uneducated guess is the current legislation failed her.
Stop judging. It’s time to protect our girls, our women and not only teach them that their behaviors are self-exploitation, but also enact legislation to prosecute the people who are perpetrating this harassment and further exploitation.
Writer
/ November 10, 2011Angie,
I admire you for having the courage to speak out. Please use these horrific events to educate girls on the dangers of self-exploitation and placing blame on victims.
Read these books:
_The Beauty Myth_
_Reviving Ophelia_
_Lucky_ (not the magazine, Alice Sebold’s memoir) and
Pema Chodron’s _When Things Fall Apart_
If you were serious about wanting to pursue a degree in law, start now.
Best,
~DV
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