WARNING: Contains mention of sexual assault

In recent months, the news has been full of accounts from both men and women in the public eye discussing their experiences involving sexual assault, sexual harassment and discrimination based on their sex. Many people are shocked. Many people cannot understand why this is all happening now. Well I hate to break it to those people but it has always been happening. It’s been happening but no one says anything. No one says anything because no one feels they can talk about it. Society blames the victim so the victim stays quiet. The victim does not want to be a victim.

This is what society teaches girls from a young age. You asked for it. Why were you dressed like that? What did you think was going to happen? I’m calling bullshit on that, as are many others.

This is why the celebrities speaking up about such issues are crucial. Women like Aly Raisman and others from USA gymnastics team, Halsey, Oprah, Chrissy Teigen, (just to name a few) are using their social media platforms, guest appearances and award speeches to have their voices heard. Many are opening up about their own experiences while others are showing support for victims in the hopes of bring awareness to sexual assault, workplace harassment and discrimination. They speak on the behalf of people who cannot get the audience to hear their stories. These women participate in the #metoo movement which has revealed so much about sexual assault that has forever been swept under the rug and hid from the public eye. The Time’s Up movement followed by rallying so many women together to support each other in speaking up and having a bigger voice not only for themselves but for women who feel like they don’t have one at all.

Sexual assault doesn’t discriminate based on how famous you are, how much money you make or who you’re related to. Women in the public eye know this, but they also know that they are in a position of power to talk about it openly and hopefully spark some kind of change.

Celebrity voices are the voices of the women like you or me who can’t get their voice heard by millions. They’re the voices explaining time after time to the men and women who can’t understand. They’re the voices of victims and survivors. They’re the voices that inspire and encourage women both young and old that they can be or do anything despite their age. They’re the voices reminding all of us that we too have a voice.