Intro 1
Within the past year, issues related to women’s rights have been more greatly discussed than they have been prior. In response to policies of the Trump Administration that oppress women’s choice and regulate them through rules about abortion/birth control, many women and other feminists have spoken out about the injustice represented. The Women's March took place in January and many people protested across the nation. This has sparked FEMINISM to be the word of the year. “'But when we look back at the past twelve months and combine an analysis of words that have been looked up much more frequently than during the previous year along with instances of intense spikes of interest because of news events, we see that one word stands out in both categories,’ Sokolowski said in a statement.” Most recently, multiple sexual assault allegations have been made against notable figures in the media: Harvey Weinstein, Melanie Martinez, Danny Masterson, Matt Lauer, Charlie Rose, Al Franken, Louis C.K., Kevin Spacey…The Atlantic Daily: "The accusations, then firings, of many other powerful men have sparked a public conversation about an uncomfortable issue that rarely surfaces... that's created a different kind of dialogue about sexual assault" (1). Why are perpetrators all of a sudden completely taken down? (I mean, thank god, but) Why do they immediately get fired and companies don't try to cover it up anymore - like they have for SO MANY YEARS? It is impossible to answer this question without commenting on America's political climate and the effects of the Trump administration.
---Trump presidency: "This focus on abusive behavior from powerful men comes at an interesting moment for the country, which is to say, during the Trump presidency" (2). "...the current reckoning with predatory behavior by successful men has come about both because of, and in spite of, the country's choice of president" (3).
"...coming forward about experiences of abuse is both an act of personal courage and a protest against this political movement. For those we see Trump's election as a dramatic failure in accountability for predatory behavior, speaking out against powerful men... is a kind of correction" (3).
sexual assault is becoming political because let's fucking protect people am i right
These allegations among celebrities has inspired the #MeToo movement among all women - everyday people, even.
#MeToo: not only with celebrities and the media, but all these people – peers, teachers, coworkers… sexual assault is something we’ve always known is happening and is wrong; however, all these talks are showing exactly how much it has been happening, and holy shit, it’s a lot. While these issues are scary, it's sort of an exciting time to be a woman... Like, #MeToo speakers are Time's People of the Year, and "feminism" is Merriam-Webster"s Dictionary word of the year. Progress is being made through the stage of accusation and DISCOURSE around the issue!]