Mollie Tibbett's Murder is More than an Immigration Issue

via NYT

Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts was murdered while jogging last month. Her murderer Cristhian Bahena Rivera killed the 20 year old after she rejected his advances, leaving her body in a rural field. The homicide has sparked immigration debates as Rivera’s U.S. citizenship was called into question. In a now viral tweet, @Jordyn Tieman rightfully shifted the conversation about how Mollie’s murder is a gender issue, rather than an immigration one. And I completely agree:

via twitter

Why aren’t we discussing that yet another woman was killed for doing what “she was supposed to do?” Why are people more outraged by the fact that Rivera may have been an illegal immigrant— as if American male citizens don’t harass, stalk, assault and kill women all the time?

Rather than face the realities of toxic masculinity and rape culture, some have continued to overlook the core motivations behind Rivera’s attack to push for harder immigration laws. In an open letter for Des Moines Register, Mollie’s father asked for people to cease using his daughter’s death as a propaganda tool:

“The person who is accused of taking Mollie’s life is no more a reflection of the Hispanic community as white supremacists are of all white people. To suggest otherwise is a lie. Justice in my America is blind.”

Are you listening? IS THIS THING ON!?

The argument over the murderer’s U.S. citizenship status is irrelevant because the exact same crimes are committed by men who ARE citizens.

We as women are constantly berated for what we wear, what time of night we walk around, what we say or whatever body language we must be giving off. However men are never regulated. Which is why violent acts against women continue because the core issue remains the same— men have the final say over women’s bodies. We see it personal relationships with domestic abuse, professional interactions with sexual harassment, and we also see it in how our male-dominated government regulates feminine healthcare, birth control and the right to choice.

via facebook

While the murder of Nia Wilson was widely discussed to be the act of a white supremist, the underlying factor is that a man thought he had the right to take a woman’s life. Another violent act against a woman, but certainly not the last.

I have never seen a commercial, a Facebook ad, a news article, a discounted class offer or even a department store product that is targeted to teach men NOT to harm women. However the amount of self-defense videos, “cute” pepper spray bottles, college campus flyers, online articles and more provide women pages of “helpful tips,” as if men can’t help themselves.

NEWSFLASH: THEY CAN. We just refuse to hold them accountable.  And if they can’t help themselves, SET THE FUCK ASIDE SO THE WOMEN (and men) WHO CAN ARE ABLE TO GET THEIR SHIT DONE.

I’m tired of not holding men accountable, and I don’t just mean those who directly harm women like Brock Turner. I’m talking about people like Judge Aaron Persky, policemen and often times other women who try to justify this “boys will be boys” rhetoric as if its harmful, all while belittling the women who come forward. The #metoo movement and Women’s March are just the beginning, and we will not remain victims anymore.