On Saturday, January 20th, women and their supporters across the nation took to the streets once again to let the world know that they were mad as hell and ready to take action about it. The marchers were protesting to achieve things like equal pay, education, freedom from sexual harassment and assault, reproductive rights, human rights, immigration reform, LBGTQ rights, Christianity, Islam, veterans’ rights, and to show their displeasure with the President of the United States, and much, much more.
Only a few hours removed from a federal government shutdown over a budgeting standoff involving DACA and CHIP, the President of the United States took to his favorite form of media to address the marches:
Many marchers viewed this as another indication of how out of touch with reality President Trump is, because yet again, the President made it all about himself. The sea of pink hats, designed to represent vaginas, echoed this sentiment as they represented protest against the President’s own confession of sexual assault when he said he would just “grab em by the p***y”.
Photo courtesy of Makaela.
The show of support for the women’s march was not only impressive, but as a man, I found the experience humbling. As the political landscape, especially around gender equality issues, has begun to shift over the last year, I have found myself reevaluating many of the views I once held.
My formative years were spent deploying around the world in an all-male airborne infantry unit, and during that time, I formed unhealthy opinions about gender equality. That’s an understatement. I was an a**hole. Since that time, through education and conversations, I have tried to evolve.
The #MeToo movement has played a large role in opening my eyes to the different facts of life between men and women. In fact, the entire reason that I have a platform to write at all now is that I was so taken with that movement that I felt the need to put pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard as the case may be.
You can find my first article here.
And on Saturday, I had to take moral stock of myself, again. Why did I believe in this cause? Why did I want to become active in the movement?
The answer was simple- to my left, and right, were three of my nieces, age five to thirteen. Their parents had brought them down to march, and in looking at them, I immediately knew that there was no longer a question of how I felt about the cause. There was no other option but to fight for a world in which they’re viewed as equals, a world in which they have the same opportunities as me, and a world in which they are protected and respected. And while our Constitution calls for equal protection under the law by my favorite amendment, the fourteenth, this past year has proven that we aren’t living up to that standard.
Makaela, the author’s niece, marches in the 2018 Cincinnati Women’s March. Photo courtesy of the author.
Last year, as we marched through the streets of downtown Cincinnati, we encountered protests from those pushing back against the movement. There were protests of the religious variety, protests against women, and protests against basic equality. This year, however, we encountered nothing but support. A sure sign that “the times, they are a changin’”.
Men and women alike were hanging from the windows of buildings, along the route, shouting their support in solidarity. Business owners came out in droves with balloons, signs, and shouts of their own. This year, I experienced a movement that was supported by every person who witnessed it, from the police escorts, to those who happened upon it by chance, the outpouring of support was clear.
Photo courtesy of the author.
As we marched, we were met with chants of “We want a leader, not a creepy tweeter.” and “Love, not hate, makes America great.”. It was clear that the goal of this march was to mobilize the masses come November to get to the polls in unprecedented numbers and take this movement from a from a march, to a voice, to a changing of the guard.
That’s the beauty of Democracy, though, isn’t it? When we don’t like something, we have the power to change it. Well, white men like me have historically had the power to change it. Now, however, we are beginning to hear everyone’s voice. What started as one woman coming out on social media about her abuse has broadened into a national movement that is shaping the course of history.
One has to look no further than what happened in Alabama on December 12th, when Roy Moore was defeated, to see the signs of those changes. Women, minorities, the oppressed, and those who previously didn’t have a voice are finding that they, too, can make an impact.
WLWT, Channel 5 in Cincinnati, put the estimated number of marchers at 10,000-12,000 people, and while I am sure their estimate is pretty accurate, it felt like a helluva lot more.
It felt like something was on the horizon.
It felt like change.
Photo courtesy of Makaela.
—
#WordsThatMatter
If you believe in the work we are doing here at The Good Men Project, please join like-minded individuals in The Good Men Project Premium Community.
◊♦◊
◊♦◊
Get the best stories from The Good Men Project delivered straight to your inbox, here.
◊♦◊
◊♦◊
Sign up for our Writing Prompts email to receive writing inspiration in your inbox twice per week.
The Good Men Project is an Amazon.com affiliate. If you shop via THIS LINK, we will get a small commission and you will be supporting our Mission while still getting the quality products you would have purchased, anyway! Thank you for your continued support!
Photos courtesy of author.