The Mirror

I love how the #metoo movement changed our attitude towards rape and harassment victims. It was important for us to see that this went on in every state, every city and perhaps every place of employment in American history. The majority of the ones who spoke up (including myself) were supporting the few brave working women who spoke out against the ones who wronged them sexually. It allowed all of us to see how common the problem was and projected us forward into a world with a little less discrimination. We looked at each other in the face and realized that this happened. This was the environment most women in the workplace experienced.

I could spend hours typing page after page about men (and women) who wronged me based solely on my gender, but there would be no point. I just didn’t receive the support and compassion I needed to heal. The main point to all these human rights movements is to heal and move forward. Making others aware is the first step. Reaction to injustices can vary from violence to compassion, from defensiveness to understanding and from accusations to compensation. Healing any form of discrimination requires validation before we can evolve and move forward.

What made the #metoo movement so powerful is that thousands of women (and men) all over the country supported one another and spoke up. We connected through similar experiences or trauma and realized that we were effected in the same way. Instead of see ourselves as victims who are entirely alone. We saw each other as sisters going through similar traumas and how it effected the way we saw the world around us. We also learned by watching others address discrimination and injustice. These women that came forward were brave enough to inspire the rest to support their cause.

Why doesn’t this happen more often? Why does gender discrimination still continue?

I’d like to know why women do not support each other’s efforts more frequently. Imagine the goals we could accomplish together supporting one another’s efforts and ideas instead of competing against each other.