Dear Olivia Benson

So, nerdygirlnotes.com is doing a Fan Mail Project. They're taking a bunch of letters fanmail to all the badass female characters that we know, and are making them into a book. I missed the deadline, but I wrote one to one of the most badass detectives I know:

To Olivia Benson,

This seemed like a weird concept to me, but as soon as I decided to do it, yours was the first name that came to mind. I haven’t watched your show for as long as others in the world have, but I have watched it long enough. Growing up, I never would have believed that a show about sex crimes would bring me such comfort. 

That was, until I told my Mom about my Step-father, and what was happening to me at night while she was at work. And how I suddenly felt like I was all alone in the world. And how, when he decided that he didn’t want to face the consequences, he took himself out of the world, instead of allowing me to feel some sense of justice. I was angry, confused, ashamed, and an all around mess while I figured myself out. And it took some time, but I’m no longer ashamed.

I contribute some of that to you. Watching SVU, and how you supported other survivors helped me to feel validated. The show helped me realize that survivors feel all sorts of emotions, and no two people react the same way. It helped me to understand that I wasn’t alone, and that these horrible crimes happen every day. But that there are scores of people willing to help out and really make a difference.

How you do everything, even toe the line of the law, to bring a character justice is somewhat therapeutic. I will never have that opportunity, but at least I can have an idea about what that is like. And I think that when a scumbag defendant gets acquitted, I am just as let down as you are.

But your show did something even more amazing for me. Your show gave me a voice. It inspired me to speak out, to spread the statistics, and to become the activist that I am today. Your character has inspired me to push through my PTSD and fight to support other survivors. Liv also taught me that some days are tough no matter what, and that’s okay. It doesn’t mean that I am weak, in fact, it means that I am strong. So thank you, for being flawed, and for working with them to support a cause that you love. Thank you for refusing to give up on the survivors. Thank you for always fighting for justice, even when it seemed futile. Thank you for helping me decide to fight back, instead of staying silent. It means more than I could ever put into words.