MEXICO: I Fought Back Against Revenge Porn
When her long-term boyfriend released an intimate recording, Olimpia thought her life was over. Then, she and a group of women activists joined together to pass a law to protect women from digital violence.
by Olimpia Coral Melo
“Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that the name that had embarrassed me because of a sex tape would become the name of a law to ensure that no woman is blamed and scorned for her sexuality.”
A few years ago, I recorded a sex tape with a boyfriend I had been with for six years. Without my knowledge or consent, he released it on WhatsApp and it was widely circulated. He recorded the video, so my naked body was there for everyone to see, while there was no way for him to be identified. He denied sharing it and even being in the video. People began speculating about who I was sleeping with-my reputation was ruined.
There wasn’t a single day I didn’t receive requests from random men asking me for sex on my social networks. A local newspaper put the story on their cover, stating that I was “burned on social media” and therefore I no longer had a future. The newspaper sold like hot cakes. They profited from my body. I was only 18.
Everyone in my hometown told me that I was at fault. Even my family judged me. I thought my life was over, and I tried to commit suicide three times. The scandal meant that I had to leave everything: my home, my freedom, even my name. I was no longer Olimpia; I cynically adopted the name people gave me on social media: the “gordibuena of Huachinango”, a derogatory sexist term meaning that I was “hot” despite being curvy.
I believed that I was to blame because I had “allowed” these bullies to see my naked body while being sexually active with my long-term boyfriend. I felt like I was being raped, even without anyone else ever having touched me. They raped me every time they shared that video, every time they made fun of me.
It took me a long time to understand that what happened was not my fault, but eventually I gathered my courage and reported the video to the authorities. At the time, spreading intimate content on the internet without consent was not considered a crime. Even the authorities blamed me.
When I found out that I was not the only girl to go through what is commonly called “revenge porn,” I was livid and decided to fight back. I joined up with a group of feminist activists who unconditionally supported me. We put together a collection of bills to ensure that digital violence against women is recognized and prosecuted in Mexico. At the same time, we formed Digital Defenders and the National Front for Sorority Collective.
We toured across the country to convince legislators and decision-makers to pass the bill. It wasn’t easy. For a long time we felt like we were screaming “Neither porn, nor revenge!” People were neither listening nor taking it seriously; they believed that what happens virtually isn’t real life. We dealt with opposition, criticism, and even backlash, but we kept going. There were a lot of tears and long nights until the tide started turning in our favor. I can now say that we are finally accomplishing what we set out to do: Today, because of our work, there are 28 Mexican states out of 32 that consider spreading intimate content through digital spaces without consent.
When people learned about the story behind the reform, they called it the Olimpia Law. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that the name that had embarrassed me because of a sex tape would become the name of a law to ensure that no woman is blamed and scorned for her sexuality. Because of the Olimpia Law women can now report, denounce, and access justice when they are violated in this way. When the Law to Access a Life Free of Violence Against Women passed, it was the first time that digital violence was recognized as a crime.
Our work isn’t over. Through the Digital Defenders and the National Front for Sorority Collective, we created a virtual “violence-meter” to explain the spectrum of violence against women. We promote digital education and advise women and girls around issues such as safe sexting. We have also started working with past offenders to make them aware of their responsibilities. Our challenge and aim is to ensure our safety and security, even on the Internet. More people must be aware of the damage digital violence can do so that women no longer have to put up with inequality in digital spaces.
I left my past life behind me and created another where I’m freer and happier. Women have saved me. This is why I travel the country to raise awareness of digital violence against women. To me, the Olimpia Law isn’t just some legal text; it is a crusade. I want every woman to know there is hope and that it is possible to create change if we exercise our own power.
This story was published as part of World Pulse’s SheTransformsTech Campaign and is included in the #SheTransformsTech final report. Download the report to find out what grassroots women and gender-diverse individuals from 60+ countries say individuals, policymakers, and tech companies must do to make tech equitable for all.
Originally published at https://www.worldpulse.com on April 21, 2021.
