The women's march has dominated our media over the past week. The pictures have shown empowered opinions, beliefs, and causes of women fighting for a vision they believe in together. Some in ways that are quiet and some in ways that are loud. Many have marched for a variety of reasons. There are many who disagree with some aspects, but also feel strongly about others. As a woman, I feel passionate about equality and opportunities, because well, I am a woman and women are my peers. I feel strongly about some aspects because of my faith and so do other women. Some feel passionate about a cause because they themselves are a victim to the cause. This article isn't to bash or give my opinion on the march, but to call to action the women who have displayed a passion for their cause, women. I saw a group of women motivated to fight, I know something to fight for.
Millions and millions and millions of women are trafficked internationally, but also nationally yearly. In our country, the sex industry is a multi-billion dollar company. Modern day slavery is occurring in cities where marches occurred, which is in every part of the nation. Atlanta to DC to California, women are being used as trade items on our soil. They are taken of name and given a number. They are stripped. They are bare physically and emotionally due to what has become a deserving fight to end slavery in our generation. People are not for sale, but yet our culture screams that women are objects from our tv shows to music to porn to entertainment venues. Despite the wage gap, whether or not abortion is legal, when to call a pregnancy a pregnancy, breast feeding in public, and all the other worthy causes for questions ( without asking questions we never get answer), this is occurring. And it is vastly overlooked. As I saw women marching down the street without clothes on, I remembered the stories of young teenagers who are forced to be naked in all their ways. I remember the woman who has been in bondage of a pimp for years because of the fact she could seemingly not find work or worth anywhere else. I remember the way young girls (our women) are truly treated like an object. I see a problem that needs to be fixed. That needs a movement behind it. That needs women to fight for it.
As a college woman, I am aware of the inequality of women. It breaks my heart. I hate that women are forced to sit in a courtroom and see their rapist get by on nothing. I hate that in most circumstances a man will take my place in the business world. I hate that women even have to have the conversation of abortion. Every woman has their opinion. You have a right to fight for it. Despite my beliefs, you have a right to be given the time of day to be listened to, as well as I. But, they, the women who are trafficked, deserve a fight too. They deserve to be given a voice. So often I think we use our voices for ourselves.. I am tired of hearing myself talk about what I want, what I deserve, but what about being the voice to someone who has none. No voice. No say. No way out without someone caring. We can go on all day long about progression in our rights, but how can we move forward when we are leaving millions of women in the dark as we go? How can we pick rights to march for about equality when our sisters are being repeatedly sold day after day? How can we go on about our job ladder climb when women are told my culture and economics that selling themselves is their only way out? How can I complain about my life? I cant, and I hope you can't either. Let's fix the problem of slavery instead of skipping over it to some other fight. Our march is called shine a light on slavery day.. Febuary 23, 2017. It is a day to stand up for RIGHTS. To stand up for women. To stand up for being degraded. To stand up for being used a currency. To stand up and to use your voice. Whatever your opinion or belief on anything doesn't matter when there are millions of people fighting for just a glimpse of justice, so fight for them. Let's rally passion for their freedom. Let's shine a light to end it.
