04/01/2026
The Epstein case has brought up all my angst about the victimization that happens in our world. Sometimes I feel a victim because I am a female. Other times it is because I let myself be victimized by giving in to those who don’t value who I am.
I guess the first time as an adult that I became aware of feeling like a victim was when I was working for an insurance company. We had a client who purchased several rental houses, and it was my job to go with him to inspect them. He was a very nice man and easy to converse with.
Usually, the conversation was about his job, which often went deeper into how his company worked. One day he shared that they were to hire a new employee for his work group. I asked what skills they were looking for. And he then described mine. So I inquired, what were my chances of being hired if I applied? The income would have been three times what I was earning.
He was a bit embarrassed but honest in his response. He told me that they would interview me, but they would only hire a man for that particular job. I was so angry. Not because I wanted the job. But because, as a woman, I would not be considered. I felt victimized because of my gender.
The Epstein victims’ gender turned them into s*x objects victimized by people who justified their acts from a sense of false power. And it is a desire for false power that causes us to forget to look for value in everyone. We were all created with our own brand of specialness. So I wonder how our values got so distorted that some believe we were created to be victims or victimizers?
Because I live in a world where victimization is allowed, I have to constantly remind myself that I am not helpless and powerless to do anything about it. I might not be able to do much, but to do nothing only makes me agree with the selfish victimizers of this world that I am also a victim.
The one thing that I can do is to share the qualities I hold as special with those who appreciate them and, in return, are willing to share theirs. To give because I am either expected to or demanded of makes my exchanges worthless and me a victim. To help me and our world find a balance of equality, I am committed to being proactive in eliminating the victim/victimizer balance in my life. I would love to have your shared intent keep me company on this venture.
Jackie Woods is the founder and director of the Adawehi Community located in Columbus, N.C. She can be contacted at jackiewoods.org or adawehi.com
