This Week on WomanTalk Live: “She’d Do It Again – Exposing Steubenville” with Alexandria Goddard

Alexandria Goddard

In a small town that’s seen better days but has the glory of the local high school football team to keep its spirits high, a lot changed after August 11, 2012.  A high school party night that was fueled by excess alcohol, bravado, and what many(including myself) have called the “rape culture” got way out of hand.

That night, a 16-year old girl’s life forever changed as she was dragged around, had nude photos taken of her and posted on social media, and was the subject of an ongoing commentary shared with the online world.  And even in the aftermath of a “guilty” verdict for two promising football stars from Steubenville, Ohio on March 17, 2013 – the focus in some of the media and from the “fans” still seemed to be on how those poor boys’ lives will be affected going forward.  And, the young woman?

Joining me on the show this week is the woman who made sure the world knew about this case.  When Alexandria Goddard first wrote about it after she became aware of the arrest of two football players and what she discovered online – she had no idea what was being unleashed.  The firestorm hit as she continued to write about the story and continued the conversation via her blog and social media.

After months of attack – vicious attack – for calling attention to what happened on that August night, sharing specific details and evidence,  and calling out those involved, she said she wouldn’t hesitate to do it again.  After the trial, she wrote:

“All I wanted was justice for Jane Doe. And now with the verdict in, I am proud to have played any small part in that. And I’m proud of the thousands of people — from Anonymous to Roseanne — who rallied to this young woman’s defense, even though no one seemed to do so the night that it mattered…

…I never expected this case to take on the life that it has. I have been left weeping and filled with so much pride as I watched the Steubenville rallies and listened to the stories of other victims who were too afraid to come forward. It was absolutely amazing to see the streets of downtown Steubenville filled with supporters from all over the country supporting Jane Doe — and all Jane Does.

I have received emails from around the world by people who have been moved by this case in some form or another. This case has created a social awareness about rape culture, and it has opened dialogues between parents and their children that it’s okay to be the lone man standing as long as you STAND.”

Alexandria Goddard is a hero to me.

Join us this week as we talk about this disturbing case, the aftermath, having the courage to take a stand, and how we can put this lesson to good use going forward.

Saturday, March 30^th, from 6:07-7:00 pm ET on Talkradio 680 WCBM Baltimore or “Listen Live” online  

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Dr. Booker, Ann & Danita Terry

Be sure to check out last week’s show – Women Leading the Way and Making a Difference for Our Girls – when I talked with Danita Terry, the Director of Communications of the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland and Winifred J. Booker, D.D.S., a practicing pediatric dentist, founder of Brushtime Products, Inc., and the CEO of the nonprofit, Children’s Oral Health Institute about the importance of providing mentorship opportunities for our girls and young women – and, to talk about Dr. Booker’s being recognized as one of the Girl Scout’s Distinguished Women’s Award honorees for 2013.

If you missed the show or you want to share it with a friend, it’s in the podcast archive now.  It’s the March 23rd show!

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