The Most Epic Moments For Feminism In The Year 2017

The word feminism was named ‘Word of the Year’ by Merriam-Webster dictionary, and rightly so. 2017 saw various feminist movements – from #MeToo going viral, to the Supreme Court of India deeming triple talaq as illegal. Here are some of the big moments for women that took place this year.

1. Women’s March

The day after Donald Trump took office as the President of the United States, over 5,000,000 women clad in pink protested all over the country. The rally aimed at sending the message that women’s rights are human rights. The volume of the rally set the tone for record-breaking moments for feminism this year.

2. #MeToo campaign

When the Harvey Weinstein story broke in October, women all over the world came out to narrate their own stories. The hashtag: #MeToo went viral and took over news feeds on almost every social media platform.

3. Triple talaq

Muslim women all over India were fighting the patriarchal activity of ‘triple talaq’, and finally, the victory was theirs. In August this year, the Supreme Court of India passed the order that ‘triple talaq’ was illegal.

4. Wonder Woman smashes box office

Wonder Woman was one of the most awaited movies of 2017, and it smashed the box office records. Apart from Gal Gadot being the star of the movie (she shot while she was pregnant!), it was directed by a superwoman – Patty Jenkins.

5. Saudi Arabian women allowed to drive

While the reason for Saudi women not being allowed to drive is difficult to understand, we’re glad that the country lifted the ban on female drivers. But the women will have to wait until July 2018 to actually get behind the wheel, and we can’t wait for it.

6. Taylor Swift wins a symbolic $1

Radio host David Mueller sued singer, Taylor Swift as he lost his job when she publicly spoke about how he groped her at a meet-and-greet. Swift countersued for a single dollar, to make a point about harassment and consent. Guess what, she won!

7. Viola Davis achieves the ‘Triple Crown of Acting’

How to Get Away With Murder star, Viola Davis became the first African-American man or woman to achieve the ‘triple crown’. She has won awards at the Oscars, Emmys, and Tonys, making her the first black woman to win the triple crown.

8. Indian Parliament increases the time period for maternity leave

Working women in India will now be allowed a paid maternity leave of 26 weeks. This new law is applicable for the first two children, while for the third pregnancy the leave period remains 12 weeks.

9. TIME magazine launches ‘The Silence Breakers’ edition

TIME magazine awarded its ‘Person of the Year’ to the Silence Breakers. These are the women who spoke out against sexual harassment and assault in 2017. The cover features actress Ashley Judd, Taylor Swift, lobbyist Adama Iwu, former Uber engineer Susan Fowler, and Isabel Pascual, a strawberry picker and Mexican immigrant. There’s also an anonymous fifth arm on the right side of the cover which represents the women who are not able to come forward and reveal their identities.