I became a part of history last Saturday, marching with approximately 10,000 others through downtown Ithaca. The Women’s March on Ithaca was the first time where I felt like I could actually make a difference, that my years of “feminist rants” weren’t in vain. Coming from a small town where 97.5 percent of the population is white, we not only lacked diversity but controversy. In my hometown, the labels feminist and liberal are meant as insults. As if standing up for my rights is something I should be ashamed of. I am not ashamed, I am proud to stand up for myself, for the ability to stand up for others. I marched for equality. I marched for the women who don’t even realize that women aren’t equal to men.

Upon entering the parking lot outside of Ithaca’s City Hall I was met with a crowd of people of all genders, and ages. Toddlers proudly waved signs from the shoulders of their parents. Men were leading chants. Me? I was holding the hand of my best friend, because we were both about to cry. Knowing that at that instant people around the country were marching for Women’s rights was overwhelming. I felt powerful marching through downtown, holding up traffic, reading other’s signs that were much cleverer than my own. As we continued to walk having conversations with strangers I felt like we were a close knit community. It didn’t matter that I didn’t know their name, we were there for the same reason and that was more than enough.

I marched for the right to my own body. I marched for the women who have been sexually assaulted and never got justice because they were wearing a skirt, or under the influence. I marched for the women who have been sexually assaulted and never pressed charges because the process of seeking justice is too painful. I support Planned Parenthood, because they provide women affordable healthcare in a safe and welcoming environment. I am pro-choice because not all women are able to care for a child. There are women who have become pregnant due to an assault. Carrying that baby to term will make them re-live that nightmare every day. I fight for my right to walk alone at night and not be afraid. To not be cat called, because no it’s not a compliment. When you cat call you are reducing me to a symbol of sex. Women are more than their bodies. Our purpose in this world isn’t to give you sexual pleasure. We are human. While you are reducing us to our breasts, our legs, we are studying. We are studying, we are working hard, we are becoming the leaders of this world because yes, the future is female.

I marched for women of color who cannot go into Victoria’s Secret and buy a nude color bra that matches their skin tone. For women who are only given one skin tone option for makeup. For Hispanic women who make as low as forty-three cents to every man’s dollar. As I mentioned earlier I am proud to be a feminist. When I talk about feminism I mean feminism in it’s truest form. The equality of all women which includes women who have different color skin than I do. I will never understand why we discriminate against women who have more melanin when all white women do is go tanning to look darker. There is inequality among sexes, but there is also inequality among women. The Women’s March on Ithaca was not about fighting for white women to be equal to men. The Women’s March on Ithaca was people of all genders and races fighting for the equality of women of all races. As a white woman I will never understand what it feels like to be discriminated because of the color of my skin, but this doesn’t mean I cannot fight for women of color to have the same rights that I am fighting for myself. We will not overcome inequality between men and women unless, first all women are equal to each other. We will not break the glass ceiling if we are not united.

I became a part of history last Saturday; I am part of a movement that will change our society. Although you will never see my name published for leading any march or protest, my presence there mattered. Change will happen because not just women, but people came together. Those numbers are what made people take notice. You too can be a part of history, you can stand up for yourself, you can be proud, and you can be an ally. Women have been fighting for our rights for 169 years, and we will continue to fight.