Demanding Diversity

The 2017 Women's March took place on Saturday, January 21st between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM. Over 5 million women worldwide participated, which an emphasis of over 2 million women who marched on Washington D.C.. They marched, they spoke, they chanted - but most of all, they inspired. They gave those who lost hope on November 8th a glimmer of what is on the other side of the next four years. They gave those who were silenced on November 8th, a voice.   (Photo taken from: http://nytlive.nytimes.com/womenintheworld/2016/11/11/million-women-march-being-planned-for-january-21-2017-in-d-c/)  The Women's March changed how women approached resisting the election of Donald Trump into office. It changed how women were able to make their voices heard. It encouraged them to speak out against injustice and helped the silent find a voice. Many celebrities attended the March and inspired many with their speeches. Natalie Portman was among many celebrities who spoke, declaring that ...

Oklahoma Lawmaker Justin Humphrey proposed a law that would require a man's approval before a woman is eligible to get an abortion. He referred to women as "hosts" in his defense of the bill, stating that women offer up their bodies when engaging in "irresponsible behavior" that can lead to pregnancy.  “I believe one of the breakdowns in our society is that we have excluded the man out of all of these types of decisions,” he said. “I understand that they feel like that is their body,” he said of women. “I feel like it is a separate — what I call them is, is you’re a ‘host.’ And you know when you enter into a relationship you’re going to be that host and so, you know, if you pre-know that then take all precautions and don’t get pregnant,” he explained. “So that’s where I’m at. I’m like, hey, your body is your body and be responsible with it. But after you’re irresponsible then don’t claim, well, I can just go and do this with another body, when you’re the host ...

If you follow politics, or just aren't living under a rock, I'm sure you've seen the words " Nevertheless, she persisted " floating around in your Twitter feed somewhere.  This is referencing  Mitch McConnell keeping Elizabeth Warren  from speaking during a debate over the nomination of Sen. Jeff Sessions.  Warren isn't the first women to suffer through an attempt of forced silence. For example: " Nevertheless, she persisted. " Susan B. Anthony was raised in a Quaker family with deep roots in activism and social justice and became an advocate for women’s suffrage, women’s property rights and the abolition of slavery. " Nevertheless, she persisted. " Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman to receive a medical degree from an American medical school, after overcoming several odds against her, including admittance to an all-male institution and financing medical school. " Nevertheless, she persisted. " Marie...