Jennifer Lawrence was a victim of sexual violence; not “revenge porn”
Jennifer Lawrence, in an interview with Vanity Fair, has made the following statement: “It is not a scandal. It is a sex crime,” ..... “It is a sexual violation. It’s disgusting.” . An article in the Guardian includes the following quotes:
“Just because I’m a public figure, just because I’m an actress, does not mean that I asked for this,” she told Vanity Fair. “It does not mean that it comes with the territory. It’s my body, and it should be my choice, and the fact that it is not my choice is absolutely disgusting.”
In the interview, Lawrence expresses a sense of anger and violation not just with the hackers but people who chose to view the images, accusing them of also committing a crime. “Anybody who looked at those pictures, you’re perpetuating a sexual offence. You should cower with shame. Even people who I know and love say, ‘Oh, yeah, I looked at the pictures.’ I don’t want to get mad, but at the same time I’m thinking, I didn’t tell you that you could look at my naked body.”
We fully support Jennifer Lawrence's statement: she was a victim of sexual violence and she did experience victim blaming for the crime. Those who stole the images and who shared them publicly, as well as those who viewed the images of Lawrence, and every single woman who have been a victim of this type of crime, have committed sexual violence.
We do not use the term "revenge porn". We do not use the term because the CPS actually had to issue guidance to police and prosecutors on how to label the crime of releasing images without consent. It should be taken as read that a private image, either nude or engaged in sexual activity, is sexual assault - that those viewing the images are engaged in a crime. Far too many people read the term "revenge porn" and assume the perpetrator was, at least partially, justified in releasing the images because of a perceived wrong. We need to start using language which clearly identifies the perpetrator and which clearly identifies the crime.
Releasing images without consent and viewing images without consent is sexual violence. It is that simple.
‹ The Power of Derailing Political Discussions about Male Violence Women In Prison ‘Debate’ ›
Comments are currently closed.
Jennifer Lawrence is absolutely correct in everything she says. Anyone who viewed those pictures is complicit in a crime. I’m also pleased that you didn’t call it “revenge porn”, as I think that this term diminishes the seriousness of the crime.
Agree this is a crime of sexual violence but as usual the men responsible for creating laws continue to believe womens’ bodies are mens’ private and public property. Women don’t own their bodies – men do.
Revenge porn is another euphemism men created to hide male accountability in plain sight. Just as ‘domestic violence’ is a euphemism deployed by men to hide/deny what exactly is occurring within mens’ private fiefdomes – aka mens’ homes.
Mens’ laws are biased and it is time mens’ laws are changed so that womens’ lived experiences of pandemic male sexual violence are recognised for what they are – institutionalised male violence against women.