Recent steps toward justice for women

Meredith Comas, Opinions Editor

So far, 2018 has been the host of many social trends, from the Tide Pod challenge to the continuation of the #MeToo movement and the Time’s Up movement. Women in 2018 are already fighting and making change in our society. Here’s a recap of January 2018: year of women.

Women’s March: January 2018 saw the second annual Women’s March, a march on Washington D.C. — accompanied by individual sister marches across the country — protesting Donald Trump’s administrative policies on “immigration, healthcare, racial divides” and other issues. Hundreds of thousands of people came together in a sea of pink to support women and all those oppressed in our current times.

#MeToo: While the hashtag exposing sexual harassment — founded by Tarana Burke — soon became a movement in October of 2017, it has continued on into 2018. #MeToo has lead to the exposure of Harvey Weinstein, Matt Lauer, Louis C.K. and Woody Allen.

Time’s Up: The Time’s Up movement started in 2017, but much like #MeToo has continued on into early 2018. “The clock has run out on sexual assault, harassment and inequality in the workplace,” the movement’s slogan says. “It’s time to do something about it.” The movement took over the red carpet and social media, with the famed and glamorous wearing all black and “Time’s Up” buttons to support the cause.

Oprah: At the January, 2018 Golden Globe awards, TV personality Oprah Winfrey received the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement. While the award itself took attention, it was Winfrey’s astounding speech in support of women’s rights, #MeToo, Time’s Up, among other causes, that took the spotlight. For weeks, buzz of Oprah’s speech was heard everywhere in media and in mundane conversation. It even was rumored she was running for president in 2020.

Larry Nassar: Throughout the last few weeks of 2018, Nassar has made headlines as the Olympic doctor for female gymnasts who got away with sexual harassment for years. Finally, over 150 women, such as Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles, came forward to expose his crimes against women. Nassar has since been sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison.