Vivien
TW (Trigger warning) // Discussions of rape
“Being a woman includes being progressive in doing the right thing and I believe it takes a lot of WOMEN in power in a society to do so...”
Vivien has become a leading figure in the fight against gender-based violence in Mexico. She was violently raped by Daniel Levitan, a man who who at first was imprisoned (due to incontrovertible evidence) but later released by bribe. Vivien is now determined to share her story in pursuit of justice not only for herself, but for women everywhere. She is determined to fight for a Mexico where women are safe, and a world where women hold more positions of power to enact positive change. Vivien is not to be defined by the horrible crimes she was victim to, she is defined by her survival, her compassion, and her courage. This is her story.
P: Please introduce yourself!
V: I am Vivien, 29 years old. I am going through some mental health problems with depression and anxiety and trying to find myself again and it’s a very awkward stage of my life.
P: Describe or define yourself in your own words.
V: I’m very independent and like routines, I am one to be working on completing my current life checklist and then start a new one. I enjoy going for walks and cooking a lot.
P: What is your favourite thing about yourself?
V: That no matter what is happening in my life, if I have something to celebrate, like a birthday, holiday, friends wedding, whatever it is, I am able to wipe my tears and push through successfully. I think keeping up with traditions like that is important for any life.
P: Tell us a story. Have you had an experience that’s defined you or made you stronger?
V: I was raped violently by Daniel Levitan, I went to the authorities hours after, with enough evidence he went to jail for 3 and a half months, he then bribed the Judge Peniche Caro in Quintana Roo and let him go. He is now in Israel with arrest warrant with Interpol. This experience has made me much stronger in life in being able to see how low and dark life is able to be and to still be able to go on with life, because it’s better than the alternative. This has also let me see the most amazing side of my friends and family that I had never seen, the compassion, empathy and unconditional support that left me humbled by them.
P: What is one piece of advice you’d give to your younger self?
V: Invest 100% into your friends and family, at the end of the day they are the ones that show up when anything gets real. Nothing else matters but having close ones in our lives to share life with.
P: What does being a woman mean to you?
V: I think we are powerful, I think women make the world go round and in my view there is a patriarchy that we live in as a society and more then being a “feminist” I feel like the real power of women is being progressive for the benefit of all genders. Being a woman includes being progressive in doing the right thing and I believe it takes a lot of WOMEN in power in a society to do so, since men have been incapable.
P: Who is one woman that inspires you? What would you say to them if they were here now?
V: Simone Biles, after going through what I went through and seeing how she came out roaring with a team behind her, how much I incredibly admire her and how I know how important it is to move on from such trauma, but how do we call more attention to this exact example of patriarchy?
I would ask her what’s next? Where can this go or where can we go from here?
All of these questions I find myself answering them in victim role, but since this nightmare happened to me on April 1st, I’ve had a hard time getting away from it and healing from it, not to mention it’s the biggest and most significant thing that has happened in my life. 🤍 thank you for reading. 🤍