Just last Friday, Donald Trump was sworn in to assume his position as President of the United States. When it comes to gender equality and women's rights, Trump has made it clear where he stands. Here's a hint: it's not with women. From flat out denying the existence of a wage gap to using the terms "bimbo" and "Miss Piggy" when addressing women, Donald Trump has made no attempts to hide his blatant sexism.
What does this mean for our country? To put it simply, it means that we need feminism now more than ever. In this time of uncertainty and anxiety about the future, what this country needs is real, unconditional equality. By no means is this going to come easily to us. We're going to have to fight for it.
And fight for it we have. The day after this hate monger of a politician assumed his office, an estimated 2.9 million women revolted across the country in the Women's March, making it the largest single-day protest in the history of the United States.
As I watched the events of this peaceful yet powerful protest, I realized just how vital feminism is to making it through the next four years with our rights still intact. It's scary to think about losing access to the reproductive healthcare, cancer screenings, and family planning provided by Planned Parenthood. It's terrifying to think about a man who openly admitted to sexual assault running this country. But it's downright horrifying to think about a country where feminism has the potential for being attacked by our government.
What does a Donald Trump America teach future generations? That it is okay for men to degrade women, cheat them out of at least 20% of their rightful pay, and "grab them by the pussy"? If we don't act now, the future of equality is at risk.
Feminists, this is your call to action. Throughout history, countless women have dedicated their lives to the progression of women's rights in this country. We cannot let the ignorance of an unfortunate government tear down the years spent fighting the neverending battle against sexism. It's time to break the stigma on feminism and shed light on the absolute need for the defense of women's rights.
