“She shouldn’t have been by herself.”
No. No. No.
I read that comment today on a link to a story about 22-year-old Celia Barquin Arozamena who was murdered. The Iowa State student went golfing Monday morning and authorities say she was raped and murdered.
Let me say this loud and clear for the people in the back:
Women should not have to travel in packs.
We should be able to go for a jog.
We should be able to go for a bike ride.
We should be able to play golf.
We should be able to go to a store.
We should be able to walk through a parking lot.
We should be able to walk on a trail.
We should be able to sit on a park bench.
We should be able to kayak.
WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO ALL OF THESE THINGS ALONE IF WE WANT.
In fact, we should be able to do whatever the heck we want BY OURSELVES without the fear of someone attacking us…without the fear of someone raping us…without the fear of someone murdering us.
It’s not US who need any reminders.
It’s the people who don’t know the word NO…
It’s the people who think they can have whatever they want…
It’s the people who have zero respect for women…
It’s the people who think they are superior…
It’s the people who think women are weaker…
It’s the people who have no soul…
It’s the people who think women are for the taking…
THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO NEED THE REMINDERS.
So let’s stop blaming women.
It’s not the clothes we wear…
It’s not the time of day we are outside…
It’s not the way we looked at someone…
It’s not whether we’re alone or not…
It’s not whether we drank too much…
It’s not whether you thought we didn’t mean NO…
It’s NOT US.
Point-blank PERIOD.
IT’S NOT US.
Amen!!!!!
Pretty sure that person was an internet troll and you just wrote a whole article about it lol
Actually I know the person who posted it — and he is known for posting a lot that puts blame on women
Amanda I love his and agree more than there are words for. However you did just write a piece a few weeks ago devoted to women who called the cops on a WONDERFUL mother because the other mothers in the neighborhood said about a perfectly responsible little girl “she shouldn’t be alone”
I never said anything about the little girl’s mother. Nobody called the police on a little girl for selling cookies – they called the non-emergency line out of concern for her safety. With the way things are nowadays…I would have done the same thing to make sure the little girl was safe.
A friend shared your “In that fraternity basement…” blog (which I too shared) and found myself lost reading all the others. I am so glad I found you – intelligent, thoughtful, compassionate, outspoken…thanks for being you and keeping me hopeful in humanity and my fellow sisters of the world <3