Online Shame, Real-Life Victory

The lines of code glowed, green and satisfying. It was almost 11 PM, and I, Sarah, a data analyst by trade and a numbers person by nature, was finally done for the day.

Then, a trending video popped up. My face, my building, and a headline: "Dedicated Employee or Work-Life Imbalance?"

My stomach clenched. Comments flooded in, a digital deluge of pity and objectification. "Wow, she looks so plain." "Probably single. A guy could just walk up to her and she'd probably be grateful."

It was disgusting. I felt watched, assessed, categorized by strangers. Unsafe.