While women have made progress in de-stigmatizing sex work and other professions normally considered taboo, we’ve still got work to do protecting women. This is especially true for older generations. During a recent taping of “The View,” co-host Whoopi Goldberg offered interesting analysis illustrating this. Actress Bella Thorne recently revealed that she was being extorted by a hacker who had gained access to her personal photos. After being threatened with the public release of her nude photographs, Thorne took power into her own hands and released them herself.
Never failing to disappoint, “The View” came through with commentary from the peanut gallery. According to Whoopi Goldberg, Bella Thorne should have known better than to take nude photos of herself in the privacy of her own home. Goldberg received immediate backlash online and was accused of victim-blaming Bella Thorne. Without mentioning that adults have a reasonable right to privacy, Goldberg effectively changed the narrative from Bella Thorne being victim of a crime to the tired, old “she was asking for it” defense.
Bella Thorne responded with an emotional video pushing back on Goldberg’s comments. The actress was reportedly scheduled to appear on “The View,” which she canceled after Goldberg’s remarks. Speaking through tears, Thorne described the shame and pain she suffered as a result of having her privacy violated. She pointed out that receiving scrutiny from “a bunch of older women” over her ordeal adds to her suffering.
Technology has revolutionized our lives in many ways, including romantically. People are able to interact with friends, significant others and spouses in ways previously unavailable. Writing off crimes by predators by condemning victims with “she should have known better” vitriol hurts the advances we’ve made as women.
