“I am Jane Doe”

“I am Jane Doe” YOU MAY HAVE SEEN WOMEN SAYING THIS ONLINE, AND I WANT TO EXPLAIN WHAT IT MEANS. THERE’S A WOMAN AT THE CENTER OF THE CORNELL 7 CASE WHO HAS CHOSEN TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS. IN A CIVIL LAWSUIT, SHE ALLEGES THAT SHE WAS DRUGGED AND SEXUALLY ASSAULTED BY SEVEN CORNELL FRATERNITY MEMBERS IN 2024. THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION HAS NOW BEEN REOPENED. UNFORTUNATELY, INSTEAD OF ALLOWING THIS WOMAN TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS, PEOPLE ONLINE HAVE STARTED TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO SHE IS. SO WOMEN ARE DOING SOMETHING REALLY SIMPLE. WE’RE SAYING, I AM JANE DOE. NOT BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY KNOW WHO SHE IS, BUT BECAUSE SHE COULD BE ANY OF US. SHE COULD BE YOUR MOTHER, YOUR SISTER, YOUR DAUGHTER, YOUR WIFE, YOUR BEST FRIEND. IMAGINE SURVIVING SOMETHING HORRIFIC, FINALLY FINDING THE COURAGE TO TELL YOUR STORY, AND THEN HAVING THOUSANDS OF STRANGERS DECIDE THAT THEY NEED TO KNOW YOUR NAME AND YOUR FACE. SHE DOESN’T OWE US THAT. WE CAN DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY. WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE CASE. WE CAN TALK ABOUT CONSENT AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE. WE CAN DEMAND THAT INSTITUTIONS TAKE ALLEGATIONS LIKE THESE SERIOUSLY. AND WE CAN DO ALL OF THAT WITHOUT TURNING A WOMAN WHO SAYS SHE WAS ASSAULTED INTO ANOTHER SPECTACLE. AT THE END OF THE DAY, KNOWING WHO SHE IS DOESN’T MAKE WHAT HAPPENED TO HER MORE REAL. IT DOESN’T MAKE HER STORY MORE IMPORTANT, AND IT CERTAINLY DOESN’T MAKE HER MORE DESERVING OF OUR PROTECTION. SHE ALREADY DESERVES THAT. SO IF YOU’RE A WOMAN SAYING I AM JANE DOE, THIS IS WHAT YOU’RE SAYING. YOU’RE SAYING YOU ARE NOT ALONE. YOU’RE SAYING WE SEE YOU. WE BELIEVE WOMEN DESERVE PRIVACY. WE BELIEVE SURVIVORS DESERVE PEACE. AND WE STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE WOMAN WE MAY NEVER KNOW BY NAME. *I tried not to get emotional* BECAUSE PROTECTING HER IDENTITY ISN’T ABOUT PROTECTING A STRANGER. IT’S ABOUT PROTECTING ONE OF OUR