I am a feminist. Not the type of feminist that comes to most peoples minds. I do not move to extreme measures of making my message heard in ways that only make people question me more. Don't get me wrong, I am all for feminism and working to make the world see women and men as equals. However, I am not someone who believes that in order to make my point, I need to stand outside the state capital bare-breasted, burning my bra, and spitting at men. I will, however, talk to you all day about women's rights throughout history (with a heavy focus on the women's suffrage movement...because its my favorite), and how I believe we can continue to work together to make women heard.
Unfortunately, the term feminism has evolved into a word that comes with a negative stigma of women hating men. I am not that type of feminist. I am, by Mirriam-Webster's definition, a person who believes in "the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes". That being said, I respect men. And I look forward to the day that when a woman does something different, it is not seen as a big step for woman-kind, but it is seen as normal as a man doing the same.
I respect men that respect women, men that see misogynistic points of view as ridiculous and a joke. Men who appreciate women in the workplace, and who do not choose to use their physical differences as leverage as to why they should be seen as superior. I could do this all day, but I will leave my examples at that.
That being said, I do not respect men who try to dominate women. Men who will only see women move forward in their careers if those women trade success for sexual favors. People like this are not men...they are boys. Boys who do not deserve the power they have obtained. Boys who deserve to be spit on by the women they try to manipulate. Such individuals deserve to be blacklisted and forced to resign from their careers.
We have recently seen this issue taken to many new public levels. Levels that should have been arrived at years ago. In the last year the #metoo movement took over the media. A movement that gave women the courage to discuss their experiences being sexually assaulted and harassed. This movement called out to women of all shapes, sizes, colors, professions, etc. All women. We listened to actresses, political figureheads, friends, and family discuss their experiences dealing with assault and harassment. We learned about some of the most famous men in their industries' misuse of their power, on women who aspired to climb their career ladder.
From this stemmed a new movement, the #timesup movement. Re-lighting the spark that was lit with the #metoo campaign, #timesup flooded media and the Golden Globes with awareness and individuals speaking out. And I will tell you what, those women inspired me - all while looking FABULOUS. Guess what, not only are women a force to be reckoned with, but we are a BEAUTIFUL force to be reckoned with.
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Some of my favorite quotes from the 2018 Golden Globes came from Oprah, Laura Dern, and Rachel Brosnahan. Take a look:
Oprah - "Each of us in this room are celebrated because of the stories we tell, and this year we became the story. [...] I want to express gratitude to all the women who have endured years of abuse and assault. Because they, like my mother, had children to feed and bills to pay, and dreams to pursue." "Speak your truth!" "Speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we all have!"
Laura Dern - "Many of us were taught not to tattle. It was a culture of silencing, and that was normalized. May we teach our children that speaking out without the fear of retribution is our culture's new North Star."
Rachel Brosnahan - "There are so many women's stories out there that still need and deserve to be told. [...] So as we enter this new year, please let's continue to hold each other accountable and invest in, and make, and champion these stories."
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Nothing is going to change immediately, but making women aware that they have a voice - and an armada of warriors backing them - is a step in the right direction. Raising $16 million for the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund -a legal defense fund for people who have experienced workplace harassment - only makes that step bigger. Every little girl that watched Oprah, Emma Watson, Emma Stone, Reese Witherspoon, Eva Longoria, Michelle Williams, Meryl Streep, Shailene Woodley, and so many more women take a stance on raising awareness about women's equality, harassment, and assault, was given a stepping stone. These little girls, teen girls, young women, and older generations were given an opportunity to see a long endured struggle put in the spot light. This movement may not have come with a plan to initiate industry-wide mandates, but it raised awareness, and gave women and growing girls the OK to speak out against sexual injustice.
I am passionate about women feeling empowered and continually breaking the glass ceiling! I am so proud to know that I live in a world where women are gaining a much more valuable voice than that of previous decades. Here's to those women who are using their voice to speak out and give all other women a voice they might not have, otherwise, known.
Love Always,
Kaitlyn B
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