Following the first year of Trump's presidency and the rise of the #MeToo movement, I can see how 2018 might be the Year of Women. I certainly hope so. The stories of women courageously coming forward this past year, despite fear of retribution and threats - they inspire me. There's a feeling I get when I read about these and it's a strange and overwhelming mix of admiration, empathy, fear, grief, and hope.
Seeing other women come forward gives me hope that one day we'll live in a world where women no longer have to bury our pain but we can openly seek justice. Seeing powerful men fall from grace gave me a sliver of hope that we might finally live in a place that prioritizes the well-being of women over letting predators keep their jobs. But some of them openly supported women or saw themselves as feminists; many of them were surprising - all of which supports one frightening conclusion: we are never safe.
On my wishlist this year is that women will continue to support women - that we'll listen to one another. I hope we continue to empower and be compassionate towards each other - this stuff is hard enough as it is. It is the least that we can do.
If you are able to attend, consider showing up to a Womxn's March in your local area.
(I created this graphic for the agency I work for - we wanted to promote our local Womxn's March here in Seattle. I do not take credit for the design of the symbol - it has been widely used and I have not been able to identify the original source. You might see this design floating around on posters across the city for the next few weeks!)
