Sexual harassment was once one of the world's most taboo topics. Women were subjected to gross misconduct on a regular basis and kept quiet about it. Sexual assault became a source of comedy. Watching old TV episodes and movies really shows us just how far society has progressed.

Recently, a wave of sexual harassment accusations flooded the news. Movie producers and respected actors are being placed under a microscope. Being a male in a position of power no longer excuses sexual assault—and it never should have.

Seeing this change is inspirational. Women speaking up about their assault make it that much more difficult for it to happen to someone else. When women rise up and make their voices heard, it has a ripple effect. It is getting harder and harder for a man to get away with sexual harassment and as a woman, this makes me proud.

Older generations of women are paving the way for millennials. In my generation, women are much more open about their experiences and men are more aware of their behavior. Millennial women especially are more adamant about the respect they deserve from everyone around them. We don't settle for anything less.

I know that I would never let a man treat me the way that my ancestors had to tolerate. I command the kind of respect that every human being deserves, regardless of gender. This attitude will be passed on to my children and, in doing so, will continue to impact the generations after them.

The most recent wave in sexual harassment conversation came from the flood of "Me too" Facebook statuses and #MeToo tweets. The "Me too" movement—in which women wrote "Me too" if they had been a victim of sexual harassment at some point in their lives--was all over my Facebook and Twitter feeds.

I was startled to see how many of my friends and family members had been subjected to sexual harassment at some point in their lives. Reading the statuses—some of which were only two words, others which expanded on the incidents—made me incredibly sad. This visceral response is exactly what the "Me too" movement was trying to create: if we see just how many women are being affected by sexual assault, it makes it that much harder to ignore.

It's especially influential when women in positions of power expose the mistreatment that they have encountered along the way. In the wake of Harvey Weinstein accusations, celebrities came forward to share their stories, showing the watching public that harassment affects everyone. Powerful women who choose to use their platform to promote gender equality are changing the world, one voice at a time. I respect and support them so much.

It's easy to get caught up in our progress and it's important to celebrate it. We've come a long way, but we must not stop moving forward. We owe it to our ancestors and the generations that will come after us. Most importantly, we owe it to ourselves.