Written by: Meghana Singh
Introduction
In a time of adversity and political turmoil, women's rights have risen to the forefront as a result of three major movements. The Women's March, #MeToo, & Time's Up are all a result of women refusing to accept the systems built to oppress them and using their freedom of speech to build a movement and enact change.
Women's March
What is the Women's March?
With the election of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States of America, people all over the country were horrified. Especially people interested and worried for the safety and protection of women's rights. During his presidential campaign, several stories emerged providing evidence that Trump committed sexual assault and harassment numerous times, and the numbers were growing. Additionally, his rhetoric on many occasions showed blatant disrespect and extreme misogyny by the President elect. The day after his inauguration, millions of people all over the country and the world marched in protest of his inauguration.
According to Vox, approximately 4.2 million people marched globally for the Women's March Movement (Lopez).
Speeches
At each protest, celebrities, activists, politicians and civilians alike, all took to the stage to voice why they were marching, and share what problems they'd been facing that they were not willing to take any longer.
Actress America Ferrera spoke at the Washington DC protest:
"It's been a heart-rendering time to be both a woman and an immigrant in this country... But the president is not America. His cabinet is not America. Congress is not America. We are America! And we are here to stay."
(Alcindor & Hartocollis)
The "pussyhats"
One of the images that has become historic from the movement is the "pussyhats". From Donald Trump's infamous lines from the leak of the 2005 tape, "Grab her by the pu**y", women moved to take back that term and use it as a form of empowerment. The hat worn around the world, the "pussyhats" were founded by The Pussyhat Project and are a "symbol of support and solidarity for women's rights and political resistance," according to their website.
In 2018, another Women's March took place on the anniversary of the first one in major cities across the world to show that movement is not going anywhere, and is only growing stronger with time. There were not as many people as the initial marches, nor as much coverage or media attention, but the message was still the same. Unity in the progress for women's rights and political resistance.
(Lopez)
Me Too
After the women's march, women were inspired and in October 2017, Women brought started bringing forward their stories of sexual abuse, harassment, and violence. The movement grew and grew with stories from all industries, but the focus drifted to the famous names accusing the famous faces.
The Harvey Weinstein Scandal
The biggest name and the largest accusation of the Me Too movement, is of one of the most powerful men in Hollywood, Harvey Weinstein. As a very important executive producer, Weinstein had influence over thousands of vulnerable women just starting their careers. A growing number of accusations and accounts of Weinstein harassing women spans over 30 years with nearly 100 women and counting. For years, his influence as left unchecked and corruptive system of Hollywood allowed Weinstein to abuse and harass women without consequence for decades. But with inspiration from the women's march and the promise for change, women finally broke their silence and put an end to his predatory ways. As a result of the Accusations, Weinstein lost his job in his company and is facing charges.
(Zacharek)
Actresses Rose McGowan and Ashley Judd were the first to speak up and their accounts built the momentum for other women to add their stories to the mix. Slowly, women came forward and it became clear that Weinstein's crooked dealings were something most of Hollywood was aware of, but did nothing about until now. It was the myth of the "casting couch" and it just being the way Hollywood was that let Weinstein's actions slide.
("Harvey Weinstein timeline: How the scandal unfolded")
Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow both brought up instances from early in the career where Weinstein harassed them and they avoided every working with him ever again.
(Elizabeth, Herman & McNamara)
The Importance of #MeToo
As women came forward, more and more women and men started sharing their stories and voicing support for all the people who come forward. And for those who were not yet able to share their stories simply wrote #MeToo to show that they were not alone and that it happens to more people than we think.
Harvey Weinstein is not alone in being accused and facing consequences. Since Weinsten's accusation over 120 Hollywood men have been accused of sexual harassment, assault, or abuse including: Matt Lauer, Kevin Spacey, Casey Affleck, Ed Westwick, Louis C. K., and so, so many more.
(Cooney)
As a tribute to the women who brought forth their stories, Time magazine honored this movement and the impact it was having by naming the "Person of the Year" the "Silence Breakers".
"These silence breakers have started a revolution of refusal, gathering strength by the day, and ... their collective anger has spurred immediate and shocking results: nearly every day, CEOs have been fired, moguls toppled, icons disgraced."
(Dockterman, Edwards, & Zacharek).
Time's Up
On January 1st, 2018, powerful figures in Hollywood posted these photos all across Instagram to announce to the world that in the new year "Time's Up."
According to the website:
"The TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund, which is housed at and administered by the National Women’s Law Center, connects those who experience sexual misconduct including assault, harassment, abuse and related retaliation in the workplace or in trying to advance their careers with legal and public relations assistance."
("Time's Up Legal Defense Fund")
"This Fund will enable more individuals to come forward and be connected with lawyers — regardless of industry, rank or role. Countless activists, celebrities, and other donors want to see an end to a culture that allows sexual harassment and retaliation of those who courageously step forward to go unpunished. This effort is not just to support women in Hollywood, but others in need – the factory worker, the waitress, the teacher, the office worker, and others subjected to this unacceptable behavior. Now is the time to finally stop the sexual harassment and retaliation that has often gone unchecked."
("Time's Up Legal Defense Fund")
With over 300 celebrities signed on to support the Time's Up Movement, the weight of the movement was showcased at the 2018 Golden Globes. Nearly every woman attending the event wore black, and several of the men as well, with hundreds of people wearing small "Time's UP" pins on their clothes. This visual symbol marked a change and the entire ceremony was showcasing a new, post Weinstein Hollywood with people no longer being forced into situations and conditions of sexual harassment, abuse, or assault.
One of the most memorable moments of the night was Oprah Winfrey's powerful acceptance speech that roused the audience and gave a clear message of the vision of the Time's Up Movement, and the future that it hopes to build.
Freedom of Expression
This movement marks the coming together of the need for movement in the Women's March and the courage of speaking up in Me Too and the need for action in Time's Up. Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Press, and Freedom of Speech have all come together to become a new right: the freedom of expression. With the fire in their hearts fueling their words, women are finally moving to take words into action. They are putting their money and support where their mouth is and working to fight sexual abuse, harrassment, and assault on every level in anyone way they can. Hollywood and the country are coming together to say that Time is Up on prohibiting women's rights and taking advantage of them, and is working to build a better, safer, protected future for everyone.
Works Cited & Picture Sources:
Buckley, Cara. “Powerful Hollywood Women Unveil Anti-Harassment Action Plan.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 1 Jan. 2018, www.nytimes.com/2018/01/01/movies/times-up-hollywood-women-sexual-harassment.html.
“Celebrities on the Move in Women's March 2017.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 24 Jan. 2017, www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/life/people/2017/01/21/celebrities-on-the-move-in-womens-march-2017/96883002/.
Cooney, Samantha. “Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey: More Men Accused of Assault.” Time, Time, 26 Jan. 2018, time.com/5015204/harvey-weinstein-scandal/.
Hartocollis, Anemona, and Yamiche Alcindor. “Women's March Highlights as Huge Crowds Protest Trump: 'We're Not Going Away'.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 21 Jan. 2017, www.nytimes.com/2017/01/21/us/womens-march.html.
“Harvey Weinstein Timeline: How the Scandal Unfolded.” BBC News, BBC, 12 Feb. 2018, www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-41594672.
“Home.” PUSSYHAT PROJECT™, www.pussyhatproject.com/.
King, Kirsten. “What It Means When Women Say ‘Me Too.’” BuzzFeed, 17 Oct. 2017, www.buzzfeed.com/kirstenking/what-it-means-when-women-say-me-too?utm_term=.gl8z8QRej#.yy67Yb4kE.
Lopez, German. “A Year after the First Women's March, Millions Are Still Actively Protesting Trump.” Vox, Vox, 23 Jan. 2018, www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/1/23/16922884/womens-march-attendance.
McNamara, Brittney, et al. “Harvey Weinstein's Accusers: The Full List.” Teen Vogue, TeenVogue.com, 8 Dec. 2017, www.teenvogue.com/story/harvey-weinstein-accusers-full-list.
NBC. “Oprah Winfrey Receives Cecil B. De Mille Award at the 2018 Golden Globes.” YouTube, YouTube, 7 Jan. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=fN5HV79_8B8.
“#TIMESUP (@Timesupnow) Instagram Photos and Videos.” Instagram, www.instagram.com/timesupnow/.
“TIME'S UP Legal Defense Fund.” NWLC, National Women's Law Center, nwlc.org/times-up-legal-defense-fund/?gclid=CjwKCAiAn5rUBRA3EiwAUCWb2xKEK9ULzpjhaiBAmBwo-t1c2k7JpVCYJzZbY5O63OdjD74My6pffRoCLMkQAvD_BwE.
“‘Women's March Logo.’” Google Search, Google, www.google.com/search?q=women%27s%2Bmarch%2Blogo&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=dpLXB79inbGCRM%253A%252CuXnFwFrRhFGjOM%252C_&usg=__svCA3wlAXPdqs46xd5MTBrTHabs%3D&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiI5c-G6KvZAhXmguAKHR6kCRQQ9QEIMzAE#imgrc=VhuXh9oRmQqDhM:
Zacharek, Stephanie. “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Harvey Weinstein?” Time, Time, 12 Oct. 2017, time.com/magazine/us/4979222/october-23rd-2017-vol-190-no-16-u-s/.
Zacharek, Stephanie, et al. “TIME Person of the Year 2017: The Silence Breakers.” Time, Time, 2017, time.com/time-person-of-the-year-2017-silence-breakers/.