2017 hasn’t been the best year for women. With the inauguration of Donald Trump as President of the United States, it seems like women’s rights are not only failing to progress, but sliding backwards. But it is important to note that while Trump and his administration have consistently attacked women’s rights in general, women are not allowing this to tear them down. In fact, women are standing up and fighting back.
The first huge example of this was the Women’s March. On January 21, 2017, the day after Trump’s inauguration, there was a worldwide protest. The message of these protests, especially the Women’s March on Washington, was pro-women and anti-Trump. The goal of these protests was to make it clear to Trump and his administration that women’s rights and human rights, and women will not be silenced. It turned out to be the largest single-day protest in U.S. history. And the voices of women have continued to roar throughout this entire year.
2017 saw a significant increase of women interested in running for office. On Election Day 2017, many women won elected positions, and a lot of those wins were historic firsts! Perhaps the most significant moment for women came from a surprising place: Harvey Weinstein’s downfall.
With so many allegations of sexual misconduct against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, sexual harassment and assault became a prominent issue that could no longer be ignored. The Weinstein incident sparked a movement of sorts with things like the #MeToo campaign, as well as the brave voices of women across the globe coming forward about their experiences, sexual assault and harassment is no longer a hidden issue. Toxic men are being held accountable and women are feeling capable of telling their truths. This is extremely significant because for so long, women felt they had to keep quiet. Silence was their only answer. And their silence allowed for men to continue to hold power over them for all this time. But now that their stories are coming to light, and most importantly are being believed, women are able to have their own power and not be held down by the weight of their silence.
A positive, empowering message for women was highlighted in recent Hollywood endeavors, the Wonder Woman movie being one of the biggest success stories of 2017. Wonder Woman had the highest ever preview night box office for a movie directed by a woman, and the star Gal Gadot has been vocal about her opinions regarding the female superhero as a role model for young girls. “Boys have always had a figure to look up to, whether it’s Superman, Batman or Spider-Man. For girls, it was always the princess being saved. Now we have Wonder Woman – she’s fearless, proactive, she believes in herself and she believes she can do everything. That’s a true woman for me,” said Gadot. In television, shows such as The Handmaid’s Tale and Big Little Lies racked up Emmy nominations and wins showing that female-centered storylines were huge this year. Both The Handmaid’s Tale and Big Little Lies shed light on far less glamorous aspects of life as a female, including physical and sexual abuse.
As 2017 comes to a close, one of the most significant moments for women this year came from the announcement of Time’s Person of the Year. Naming “Silence Breakers” the 2017 Person of the Year showed just how far women have come in terms of eliminating shame and empowering the voices of those who have been affected by sexual misconduct.
So while Trump has been a huge adversary for the women’s movement, we should all take pride in how much women have stood up this year. We should recognize that women are not allowing the many setbacks that have arisen this year to deter them, or silence them, or squander them. In fact, women are allowing it to fuel their fire so they can push forward and work even harder to better their lives and those of women everywhere. Trump’s actions have backfired. And despite him, or perhaps because of him, women will continue to grow in their strength and determination and continue to be a force of good for the world.
By: Cianna Allen