The Silence Breakers

The TIME Person of the Year is supposed to be a person, idea, group, or object that “for better or for worse, has done the most to influence the events of the year.” Based on this definition, I couldn’t think of a more deserving winner than The Silence Breakers. All of the women and men who spoke out against their harassers, abusers, rapists, and offenders helped us all make a big leap this year. Some say that there is always a bright side... well, in my eyes, when it comes to the 2016 election, I finally see it. When the Access Hollywood tape came out of a presidential candidate bragging about “grabbing ‘em by the pussy,” I thought there was no way he could ever win. How could such a person win without any female votes? Silly me.

I think — along with many other women — when he won, it became clear that we were losing our voice. When our very own president can just grab us by the pussy, what about everyone else? If it’s okay for him, who’s to say it’s not okay for the manager of a restaurant to have his way with the employee he’s had his eye on, or the creep at the gym to put his hands on you? The latest season of American Horror Story was entitled Cult. It alluded heavily to the 2016 election and referenced the SCUM manifesto. In the show, a close friend of radical feminist Valeria Solanas was attempting to carry on her mission many years later. In a therapy session, she tells a young man who is planning on running for office, to degrade women and piss them off enough to have them revolt. While only being one of many plots in a captivating TV show, it’s exactly what’s going on in real life. The bright side of someone like Trump being elected is that it made us mad enough to speak up, and bless him for that (and only that). One person speaking out leads to another, which leads to a movement. Not only in America, but everywhere.

"It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent." —Madeleine Albright

By October, the #MeToo hashtag had reached 85 countries and been tweeted 1.7 million times. The more that it becomes apparent that we are not to be messed with, the less it is bound to happen. Every time a piece of shit gets fired, or shunned, or arrested, another one learns that he cannot do the same. And every time one victim hears another tell their story, they feel more inspired to tell theirs. If you think that your voice won’t be heard or it won’t make a difference, I can guarantee that you’re wrong. Even on a small scale, putting #MeToo on social media can help the few people around you realize that this type of sick abuse and harassment happens even to the people around them, people they love. Even if you haven’t been a victim, you want to help those around you that have been. This movement has been overwhelmingly inspiring for so many, and we have to keep it going. There is nothing more empowering than standing up for yourself and empowering someone else to do the same. Acknowledging the Silence Breakers as having the most influence on the events of this year is a great reinforcement that this fearless movement is making a difference and should be kept alive. Let’s keep breaking the silence.