My parents raised me to believe that I could do anything or be anything I wanted to be, regardless of my gender. For that I consider myself lucky, but that doesn’t mean I live in a society that has achieved gender equality. Jennifer Lawrence proved that.

In the latest issue of Vanity Fair, Jennifer Lawrence speaks out about the enormous nude photo leak that targeted her and a group of other female celebrities.

"It is not a scandal. It is a sex crime. It is a sexual violation. It's disgusting. The law needs to be changed, and we need to change," she said. "Just because I'm a public figure, just because I'm an actress, does not mean that I asked for this."

As more women are attending college, joining the workforce, and running their own businesses, it’s easy to believe that gender inequality is a non-issue in places like the US where Jennifer is from. After all, in many countries around the world women and girls are unable to attend school, they’re forced into child marriages, and they are unable to vote. They even lack control over their own bodies. But this latest story proves that exploitation of the female body is not just a problem in the developing world.

Jen hit the nail on the head: “It’s my body, and it should be my choice, and the fact that it is not my choice is absolutely disgusting."

What happened to Jennifer and the rest of the women involved is sexual discrimination, period. This recent example makes it clear that gender inequality is a global problem that no one is immune to regardless of race, income, or geography.

Editorial

Demand Equity

"It's not a scandal. It's a sex crime." - J Law speaks out

By Christina Nuñez