Downside to Partying in Miami

Miami is a fun place and be compared to places like Las Vegas because of all the things this city has to offer. But all good things have a bad side. I think about this today because of Bill Cosby sentencing. Bill Cosby was sentenced to 3-10 years in prison for sexual assault. Personally, I don't think that is enough no matter what age he may be. For those who don't know, Bill Cosby was accused by 35 woman of being sexually assaulted. 141 of the top power men have been accused of sexual assault. This is the time of the #MeToo era where woman are finally stepping and being heard after hiding in the dark about the bad things that happened decades ago. Bill Cosby is not even the only one; to understand the severity of the situation I will write each man under scrutiny and the amount of victims.

Now this isn't a man bashing post but there is equally a good amount of bad men and women out there. It is time we stood up for one another. But I am a 21 year old woman so I can only speak from my experience. So hearing of all this sexual assault coming from high places such as Fortune 500 companies, athletes, and celebrities who are given countless awards for the Humanitarian awards happening for decades makes me feel as though a place such as a club, bar or party this happening or more and way more often.

Women are usually targeted in highly populated cities as Miami for sex trafficking, rape, drugging, and the list is endless. Las Vegas is rated #1 for sex trafficking and sex slavery, but we are still relatively high, as number 2. Most of the people sex trafficked are from right here, in our back yard, Miami Dade County. Being a college student, this is scary because after the club people sometimes invite you to after parties and you won't think anything of it because

1. You were probably drinking so you're not even thinking of worst case scenarios

2. Why should the party end?

3. Typically After Party talks start with, "You know who is going to be there" and 9 out of 10 times it's some big name celebrity or athlete and you're just like this is one in a lifetime chance YOLO.

But honestly this is why you need to make friends in Miami.

Since I started clubbing in Miami, LEGAL OR NOT lol , I have always gone out with friends, shared my location with my mom, and always kept someone informed of where I was. Being in a new place you don't know the ends and outs and if you're like me, you're not even a local.

But not every story ends up with you getting trafficked or thrown into sex slavery. There's also people who can sexually harass you or unfortunately assault you. People in the club can grab on you and make you feel uncomfortable. But the NUMBER ONE WAY, they get you is through drugging you.

So many times I've seen people just take random pills from people in the club and you have no idea what could be in it, or drop pills in people's cups.

1. ALWAYS COVER YOUR DRINK WITH YOUR HAND IF YOU'RE NOT DRINKING IT

Unfortunately we live in an era where people are taking advantage of people's vulnerabilities. Not everyone is your friend here, there are some, but not all. Bill Cosby is an example of someone taking advantage, an abuse of power. Don't ever feel that you aren't powerful or that anything that happened is your fault. Always speak up!