And a weird one about Trump being orange and gross… I couldn’t quite follow that one. Oh and the signs! Let me tell you: feminists are funny! And creative! And dark! And smart! And thoughtful. Since the march, I have heard various stories and news reports asking what does it all mean? I have been surprised by the number of times I have heard reporters ask something to the effect of “Was this a one time event or is it the start of a movement?” What? Have you been living under a rock? The Women’s March was inspirational and moving and by many reports it was the LARGEST INAUGURAL PROTEST IN US HISTORY. But it was not the beginning of a movement, nor will it be the end. The Women’s March was rooted in a long history of protest and resistance to oppression:
I could go on and on and on. The March on Washington DC and in dozens of other cities in the US and around the world were built upon the foundation of resistance against oppression. They grew out of the blood, sweat, and tears of activists who dedicated their entire lives to these movements. They owe homage to the those who gave their lives for change.
For some, the march may have been a beginning. A call to examine systems of privilege and oppression. An invitation to raise their voice in protest. To them I say, “welcome.” Join the fight. Learn about the history the work is rooted in. Look for ways to stay engaged. Participate in the Ten Actions for the first 100 Days. But this is not the beginning of a movement and it won’t be the end. Because many of us got up the day after the march and went right back to work. Educating, advocating and working for social change. We didn’t go to the march because we just discovered inequality. And, despite Trump’s alternative facts, we did vote. And not for him. We went to the march because, as Gloria Steinem said, “Sometimes we must put our bodies where our beliefs are.” - Britney G Brinkman, Ph.D. |
AboutEMPOWERTAINMENT aims to take a critical look at media in regards to how gender and women/girls are portrayed. From popular articles, videos, and websites, to original submissions, we want to not only examine the media and its relation to gender, but help shift it. Archives
November 2017
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