Want To Know Why So Many Women Are Coming Forward Now? THIS Is Why.

Why now? Why are all these women coming forward now? Why wait so long? Why not report it right away?

Because:

Until 1948, women were not allowed to be bartenders unless their father or husband owned the establishment.

Until 1963, women could legally be paid less than their male counterparts in the exact same position. (Trump actually reinstated something very similar this year).

Until 1972, unmarried women could be denied birth control.

Until 1973, Roe V Wade — Enough said.

Until 1974, pregnant women could be discriminated against in the workplace.

Until 1974, women were denied mortgages, bank accounts, and loans based on their gender.

Until 1978, it was legal to require female employees to be under a certain weight.

Until 1981, men had sole control of joint marital property.

Until 1999, women were not guaranteed the right to feed their babies on federal property.

Until 2002, it was legal to fire women who needed to take time off to recover, treat, or process episodes of domestic violence.

Until 2010, women were not guaranteed a space or allowed any (paid or unpaid) break time to pump milk/feed their babies.

Until 2010, health insurance companies could deny, over-charge or under-insure women simply because of their gender.

That’s why.

Because since the beginning of time, women have been considered inferior. We were not allowed to vote in regards to our representation, but had to abide by all the laws put forth. We were held back from equal pay, equal education, equal representation, and equal opportunity.

There is a shift in the paradigm happening. We have taken back some of that power that was kept from us and we’re speaking up. We’re telling everyone the shitty things that have happened to us. We’re telling the media something that we’ve known all along: We’re not safe. Not at work, not at the doctor, not on the bus, not at the bar, not at school.

We’re grabbed and threatened and kissed and forced and mocked. From the time we are very young, we are taught to be fearful of men. Why? Because they will rape us and grab us and take us and drug us and hit us.

But eventually through blood, sweat, and tears, we have risen from the ashes — clawing, kicking screaming, using our shrill voices and our emotionally unstable personas to prove to everyone that we are a force to be reckoned with.

And we will not tolerate being used and abused because you somehow feel entitled to our bodies, still — after all this time.

The shift of power. That’s what you’re hearing in each and every sexual assault story. You’re hearing from countless women who finally feel like they have a voice and it matters. It matters because we know we’re not just our bodies, we know we’re not just being emotional, we know we are no longer the uneducated gender, we know we don’t have to stay suppressed, or embarrassed, or unemployed-at home in your kitchen making your babies and your sandwiches.

We are doctors, lawyers, teachers, mothers, grandmothers, nurses, firefighters, paramedics, construction workers, radiology techs, soldiers, police officers. We are the same as you.

There is no doubt that we have a long way to go. But before you know it, we’ll be your bosses and we’ll be your congress-people and we’ll be making sure your hands and lips and genitals are kept to yourself. Because if they aren’t — you’re toast.

I suspect there are copious amounts of powerful men shitting their pants knowing full well their gig could be up at any given moment.

Your “power” means nothing. Good luck, assholes.