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March for Equality Not Equal

Hell hath no fury like a woman’s march.

The day after Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of The United States, millions of people all stood together in solidarity for the protection of all of our rights, safety and health.

The march was an outlet for many to recognize that the strength of our country comes from our diverse communities. Others chose to march for more personal causes like sexual assault, support for Planned Parenthood and race issues.

After this past presidential election, it is not a surprise that sexual assault was a large part of the conversation around the march. While many groups of people have felt insulted or threatened by politicians, women seem to get the brunt of disrespect. On top of the pile of disrespectful things Donald Trump has said, last year a tape of him claiming he could do anything to women including, “Grab them by the pussy,” was released. According to the US Department of Justice, “Sexual assault is any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient.” By this standard, Donald Trump admitted to sexual assault.

 

According to National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, one in five women has been raped in their lifetime. So you can see why our new President does not sit well with many women. The best protest sign around this topic stated, “I did not survive sexual assault to hear the President brag about it.”

With millions of people marching globally, many would have called the protest a success.

However, others question how inclusive it really was. Some felt like they were excluded or unwelcome for one reason or another. Many women of color and transwomen called out the march for not being intersectional. Feminists and those who choose to march have to make an effort to understand different women and the specific problems they face. No movement is perfect, but these women are a part of the sisterhood and we should be fighting for them too.

While women of all backgrounds, races, sexualities, genders and ages gathered together to support one another, many people sat

behind computer screens to complain about it. I saw many women condemning the march and claiming it was ridiculous because “what rights do women not have in America?”

These people were right. I do have the right to vote. I can work outside my home without the permission of my father. I have the right to seek out an abortion, if I see fit. However, I did not earn these rights, but I get to because of women who fought. A woman before me used her voice to stand up to injustices. For me, marching was a way to honor the past, just as much as it was about fighting for a better future.

You do not have to march. You do not even have to support the women marching. However, they are marching for you. They are marching for women who could not use their voice. Before condemning what other women are doing, I ask you to take a step back and ask yourself when was the last time you had a conversation with a woman who did not have a life exactly like your own.

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