2017: Time Person of the Year: The Silence Breakers. Women and men, actresses, journalists, food service employees, housekeepers. People who have experienced sexual harassment, manipulation, and rape in the workplace and outside of it.

This movement is powerful, encouraging, and growing. It puts men in power on the spot who manipulated, preyed upon, and pressured young and old women and men to engage in sexual activity or inappropriate behavior. Either verbal or direct touch, all non-consensual.

As a young girl, you are taught to be sweet and innocent. Do not stand up for yourself, because it’s your job to be kind and appealing. You must be perfect. When you are on the playground and a boy pushes you or calls you dumb, it means he likes you.

That’s just how boys express their emotions, they pick on you. We are trained to be polite. In the words of the journalist, Megyn Kelly, “To be nice. To be kind. To be liked. To not make waves. Bullshit.”

Women around the workplace have experienced sexual harassment and forms of manipulation for decades. Mostly from men, as a way to have power and to show dominance in a system of patriarchy. Is it legal? No. Is it okay? No. Does it happen? All the time.

The Silence Breakers are a group of women who came forward with their stories of sexual assault mostly by men in power who tried to pressure them or manipulate them into sex or other forms of sexual activity.

All these women are smart, powerful, and strong. Women of different ages, race, occupations, showing sexual harassers do not discriminate. It has started a movement for women who are coming forward about their stories of sexual assault.

It provides support. They have established that it’s okay to be angry. It’s okay to express your emotions. It’s okay to stand up for yourself. It’s okay to share your story. And it sure as hell isn’t your fault. And It’s NOT okay.

This isn’t something that women should have to go through, this isn’t something that you have to go through to move up in the workplace. This isn't something that we should expect our mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends to go through.

This is something that shouldn’t happen. It shouldn’t be silenced. It is scary, incredibly uncomfortable, and damaging to your mental, physical, and spiritual well being as a human being.

“I was afraid of the retaliation. I know the power of patriarchy. I know what men can do when they’re angry.” Said Wendy Walsh former Fox News Contributor.

“They asked me if there were other girls. Maybe that he has done this to and can I go get them? I had to show them that I wasn’t lying. It’s like they took me for a joke.” Said Crystal Washington, Hotel Hospitality Coordinator.

This doesn't mean all men in power are going to do this. Not all men are sexual harassers. But, as a young woman are you prepared to expect the worse because it is so common.

Personally, having Time Person of the Year as the whole movement behind The Silence Breakers and #MeToo means something. It means a major news outlet is reporting all this as very important and valuable. It’s something that should be recognized and not silenced or buried away. It’s a breakthrough that this behavior is NOT okay.

Survivors should be allowed to act out and be upset about dealing with this behavior. This doesn’t do the movement justice because it is too powerful to summarize in words.

And finally, I will say #MeToo.