Female Activism x 2018

The Womens March, #Metoo, #TimesUp the call for change has mobilised across continents on all platforms for equality and debate. We are well and truly riding a contemporary wave of female activism. Technology and the media have brought the fight to the front lines; workplaces, celebrity culture, social media. This accumulation of these events which are moving at an accelerated pace with no signs of stopping, a shift in views and behaviours in society will be an inevitable.

The Womens March: Less than 24 hours into Donald Trump's presidency, people in the US capital and worldwide protested the newly inaugurated US leader -- some among them crushed by Hillary Clinton's loss, others worried about Vice President Mike Pence's anti-abortion stance, others outraged about Trump's rhetoric on women and some motivated by a combination of those concerns and more.

Since that day, the Women's March group has rolled out its own set of action items, titled '10 Actions, 100 Days,' which included the Day Without A Woman strike early last month. In that same stretch of time, involvement in other women's organizations has skyrocketed. Now, as the President marks his first 100 days in office, many involved in that movement are assessing progress and preparing for what's next.

#TimesUp & #Metoo have been phrases catapulted across mainstream media. Both of these hastags have been the cause of much discussion and action. Systematic sexism within Hollywood.

The red carpet at the 75th Golden Globes was dominated by one colour - black.

Actresses wore black gowns in support of the Time's Up movement, standing in solidarity with victims of sexual assault and harassment. Many men also wore Time's Up pin badges or black shirts with their suits. Time’s Up is a new initiative fighting sexual misconduct in Hollywood and beyond. The message of solidarity and equality was received loud and clear to the masses. Not only does it address the systematic issue of sexual harassment faced by almost every woman across the globe but also an awareness of the disparity in pay within places of work for women.

America Ferrera: "It's our job right now, the time is now for us to do the work that will make women and all people more safe and more equal in their work places and in their lives."

#Metoo has also become a rallying cry against sexual harassment for women worldwide, this phrase cultivates shared experiences amongst women and men to put an end to sexual exploitation and threatening behaviour in society.

The movement began on social media after a call to action by the actor Alyssa Milano, one of Weinstein’s most vocal critics, who wrote: “If all the women who have been sexually harassed or assaulted wrote ‘Me too’ as a status, we might give people a sense of the magnitude of the problem.”

Within days, millions of women – and some men – used Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to disclose the harassment and abuse they have faced in their own lives. They included celebrities and public figures such as Björk as well as ordinary people who felt empowered to finally speak out. The story moved beyond any one man; it became a conversation about men’s behaviour towards women and the imbalance of power at the top.

There are plenty more events that are contributing to the shift in attitudes toward the treatment of women in society this a substantial change for women’s lives for the better, the gender pay gap, #askhermore, HeforShe. Technology had aided momentously to send this wave across the globe with similar affects occurring in many countries.

Though there is criticism that this accelerated activism is causing a hyper-awareness to wider society, who now immediately denounce whistle blowing as mere ‘witch-hunts’ and have left them in an uncertain position to evaluate behaviour and questioning if the pendulum has swung too far too quickly but to others not nearly enough.

Balance will ensue eventually but only with a combined effort to root out toxic attitudes that are currently systemically upheld and acted upon within certain pockets of daily life.

We are well and truly riding a contempt wave of female activism, best buckle up and see where the journey takes us.