Mexican woman, a sexual harassment victim, finds justice after sharing her story through a Youtube video
Authorities’ attitude, in many countries, is said to be the one hindering sexual harassment victims from making an official report and eventually finding justice. The ignorance, unfortunately, was also experienced by Nancy Rojas Pastelín, a 28-year-old designer who lives in Mexico City.
Nancy decided to consult the police about her sexual harassment case on 22 January 2012, for the harasser was becoming more and more intimidating towards her. Her cries for help went in vain as she was told to not ‘exaggerate’ and unless she was ‘touched, grabbed, or raped’, the police would not and could not do anything to help her.
Police assistance only came after she posted a video of her exposing her sexual harassment stories.
Mexico, as well as other countries including the developed US, have witnessed countless sexual harassment cases in different levels – both noticed and unnoticed. “A study in the USA found that 83 per cent of girls in grades 8 to 11 (aged around 12 to 16) in public schools experienced some form of sexual harassment,” says Amnesty International. India and other Asian countries are facing the same problem.
Social media, mainly Youtube, Twitter, and Facebook, has been a useful and instant tool to make ‘live reports’. Social media empowerment, as exampled by Nancy Rojas, is currently developing in conservative nations of Middle East.
In the region where women still have to fight for a right as basic as going out and driving, more women and men realize that social media could be the tool to achieve women emancipation.
“Regionally, social media is seen in a positive light when it comes to empowering women. Responses from both women and men were similar, with the most popular use for social media as a tool of empowerment being communication and self expression, followed by civic participation and social change.” – Nancy Messieh in Social Media: A Double Edged Sword for the Empowerment of Women in the Middle East
While Egyptians have witnessed the power of social media in governmental revolution by the people, it is time for other Middle Eastern countries as well as the rest of the world, to benefit from social media empowerment in solving the vicious cycle of sexual harassment.
Proud of women who fight for justice when it comes to sexual harassment. Even words do harass. http://t.co/5aZ2lJgd
Social media is now the powerful tool in women empowerment. Let’s end the vicious cycle of sexual harassment. Stat! http://t.co/P0rXgEbE