According to a recent report, 50% of the women population around the globe go through sexual harassment every year. Be it on domestic level or at work place, women from all cultures go through this trauma. The magnitude of this problem is so grave that even Hollywood actresses are not spare from it. In October 2017, the New York singer/actress Alysa Milano initiated a Twitter hashtag campaign called MeToo to highlight the issue and bring awareness.
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While Alysa shared her own stories of sexual assault, it inspired more women in speaking up of their experiences. The hashtag spread like fire in the jungle motivating women around the world, of different cultures, sharing their own tragic stories.
Origins of Me Too Campaign
The movement was triggered by the Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein scandals that popped up like rain drops right after his death. All the ladies, disgusted by him, started appearing to share their sad experiences with him. The Twitter campaign was not just mushrooming around rather people took it pretty seriously. The response was over whelming as thousands of men also stood up in support of women. From Lady Gaga to Debra Messing, Rosario Dawnson, and Anna Paquin, a lot of celebrities followed the hashtag.
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Weinstein, who is also referred to as ‘monster’, surely has no legacy in Hollywood owing to his filthy actions. When men holding power indulge in such shameful actions, it becomes our duty to be confident enough to raise awareness. This duty was fulfilled for the first time by Gretchen Carlson, of Fox News, who spoke about her tragic experiences with Roger Ailes. Carlson proved how one woman can change the conversation about powerful men and opened the door for other women to feel safe in coming forward.
The Contribution of Women March 2017 in Awareness
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The biggest women march in the history of US was conducted in January 2017 in the leadership of four diverse, powerful women. The main objective of the march was to hold presidency accountable for unjust rulings. However, this was not the only focus on what these women stressed on was the women rights, protection and actions against all kinds of harassment. This march gave voice to sexual harassment survivors, standing beside them. Thousands of women, children marched alongside these survivors in solidarity.
These women reclaimed their confidence and strength together enchanting the slogans of strength and power. < We are powerful, we are smart, and we are going to speak up when our rights are being threatened and our voices are being silenced. >
The Golden Globe Awards 2018
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2018 started with a blast when all the big names like Emma Stone, Angelina Jolie, Alysa Milano and Oprah Winfrey dressed in black to spread awareness about sexual harassment against women. We all knew we are going to hear something outstanding when Oprah came up on stage to receive her award. Winfrey’s speech was a powerhouse for every woman who’s been a victim. The way she nailed Black Lives Matter and MeToo into one short speech was simply inspirational.
Women, the Only Winner of Oprah’s Speech
The only winner of tomorrow’s awards were women, be it white or of color, who are marginalized.
<Each of us in this room is celebrated because of the stories that we tell. And this year we became the story. But it’s not just a story affecting the entertainment industry. It’s one that transcends any culture, geography, race, religion, politics or workplace. So I want tonight to express gratitude to all the women who have endured years of abuse and assault bills to pay and dreams to pursue.
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They’re the women whose names we’ll never know. They are domestic workers and farm workers. They are working in factories, and they work in restaurants, and they’re in academia and engineering and medicine and science. They’re part of the world of tech and politics and business. They are athletes in the Olympics, and they are soldiers in the military.
And there’s someone else: Recy Taylor, a name I know and I think you should know too. In 1944, Recy Taylor was a young wife and a mother. She was just walking home from the church service she’d attended in Abbeville, Alabama, when she was abducted by six armed white men, raped, and left blindfolded by the side of the road coming home from church. Recy Taylor died 10 days ago.>
It’s Time to Give These Men a Shut up Call Just like Oprah
<For too long, women have not been heard or believed if they dared to speak their truth to the power of those men, but their time is up. Their time is up. Their time is up.>
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Oprah addressed the issue quite powerfully leaving no part intact. This is the start of 2018, it’s time we start pondering upon propositions given by Oprah so no woman has to say Me Too ever again. This, maybe, could win us all a standing ovation from torn humanity!