Zonta Club speaks out on nude photo sharing website

SooToday has received the following letter to the editor from Heather Edwards, president of the Sault Ste. Marie and Area Zonta Club in which she addresses an issue that arose in late March.  
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The Zonta Club of Sault Ste. Marie Area is alarmed and disturbed about recent reports of a chat website featuring provocative photos and a forum to promote discussion about young women in our city.  Our Club has served our city and area for 40 years with a mandate to empower women. These sites are inflammatory and offensive and are so contrary to our mission that we are compelled to send this communication.

For those who are unaware, this is a calculated subculture of young men trading photos and videos often using fake emails for others to send their “wins” in exchange for photos of certain sought-after girls, in essence trading the female body as a commodity. Many of us would be shocked to know the lengths to which a predator will go to get the photos they want and to know that certain females in our city are targeted.

It is so imperative that young males know of the danger and life-changing consequences of their actions. Young men should be taught respect for women and that good judgment is paramount in their future personal relationships and careers.

Young women must be aware that to put themselves in trusting yet precarious situations can forever change their lives. They must be educated to know that no photo is private and one precarious picture will follow them forever. Women must look after each other at social gatherings, private and public.

As women and citizens, we are very concerned and feel we have a responsibility to respond to this situation. This is a predatory and dangerous culture that must be very seriously addressed.

No doubt, work has been done to address this concern and we commend those who have taken steps. However, we continue to appeal to local parents and institutions to act promptly by using all available resources to alert and educate our youth of the inherent dangers and long-lasting effects of sharing photos and posting to social media.

Beyond education at home, which is of ultimate and paramount importance, the organization of forums or assemblies would create an environment for discussion and include parents and their teenagers. These could take place in clubs, sports organizations and schools. A display of posters and distribution of pamphlets in schools, arenas, public gathering places and even washrooms would highlight the concern. Smaller group discussions in homes, classrooms, locker rooms, cafes and team meetings would serve to reach individuals at risk or those who could become potential stalkers.

If there is any manner in which Zonta Club members could help to promote awareness of the dangers of posting provocative pictures, we would be pleased to assist.

Sincerely,
Heather Edwards, President
Zonta Club of Sault Ste. Marie Area

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