May the election of Trump bring forth the fiercest, smartest, toughest generation of kick-ass women this country could possibly manage. -- Jeffery Wright, November 2016
Women across the country, including myself, felt a hard slap in the face in November 2016 when roughly half of the American electorate voted for Donald Trump, including mothers and fathers who heard his deplorable “locker room talk” and voted for him anyway. Their collective choice felt like a frightening sign that our society was moving backwards against the current of progress generations of women fought for in our mission to reach gender equality.
However, Wright's quote is the story of 2017: assertive, intelligent, strong women saying, “No, I will not be silent anymore.”
The #MeToo movement has become an empowering rally to hear our voices and obtain justice for abuse across the world. The question isn’t whether you have a story to tell, but which time, which violation, which hurtful moment to share. Abusers rely on silence, but in 2017, we decided to be silent no more. Time Magazine’s “the Silence Breakers” as the Person of the Year could not have been a better choice to represent the backlash to Trump and many other abusers that has been unleashed this year.
In September, I hosted “Women Enlightening Men” – an event where women shared their sexual harassment stories with men in the audience. It was a conversation about the realities that women face but do not often discuss openly with their male relatives and friends. As part of the panel, I shared some of my #MeToo stories. Of the many I could have shared, one I didn’t tell that day was about an older male professional mentor who I believed had my best interest at heart. However, one day, I ran into him on Connecticut Ave. in Washington, DC. When he saw me, he grabbed me by the arm, mumbled under his breath, “My wife isn’t home,” and started leading me down the street. As I realized what was happening, I quickly found a way to extricate myself. But the hurt, betrayal, and disappointment still lingers several years later.
2017 started with millions taking to the streets across the globe for the Women’s March. In Washington, DC, the images of the Women’s March make Trump’s inauguration look like the side show to what was the main event in January this year. 20,000 women, most of us first time candidates, are now running for offices at all levels of government – and many won local races in November this year. Political and media personalities, such as Bill O’Reilly, Harvey Weinstein, U.S. Rep. John Conyers, and Matt Lauer, have all faced the music for their sexual abuse of subordinates and co-workers. Now, several women have stepped forward with accusations against Donald Trump. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has led the charge in calling for his resignation over the allegations. These allegations should be dually investigated and further calls for his resignation should follow.
However, the real work is just beginning. In 2018 and beyond, we must build on the momentum of 2017. We need to:
- Ensure our police stations, our hospitals, our legal systems, our HR departments, our society at large increasingly become safe places for victims to seek justice and support-and not be victimized for a second, third, or fourth time,
- Denounce injustices like an elite university’s swim team rapist getting off with just a slap on the wrist because “a prison sentence would have a severe impact on him” -- as if his victim’s rape wouldn’t have a severe lifelong impact on her,
- Support and vote for women seeking political positions to ensure our voices are heard in the halls of state capitals and in Washington, DC,
- Demand the end of taxpayers paying settlements for aggressors on the Hill and a more transparent, less bureaucratic system for victims to find justice,
- Expect laws to been acted to protect victims and ensure predators are not able to victimize women,
- Advocate for the Equal Rights Amendment,
- Raise our sons to respect women’s bodies, abilities, and ambitions. And empower our daughters to have a voice against sexual harassment and a belief they can succeed as well as any man in today’s professional world, and
- Breakdown the barriers that women face in the workplace that diminish their perceived value relative to their male colleagues. Salaries, wages, and promotions need to be based on job title and performance, not gender biases and a protection of the old boys’ club.
We will be silent no more. Men do not need to be excused as boys. We need to expect boys to grow into respectful men. Power comes in numbers, and we women have the numbers…and now through #MeToo, our voice is being heard loudly. In 2018, that voice will be turned into more action. #MeToo will #DrainTheSwamp.