#TimesUp

Wearing black is not all we will be doing. We will be doing away with the old spoken codes in favor of communicating boldly and directly: What we are wearing is not a statement of fashion. It is a statement of action. It is a direct message of resistance. Black because we are powerful when we stand together with all women across industry lines. Black because we’re starting over, resetting the standard. Black because we’re done being silenced and we’re done with the silencers. Tonight is not a mourning. Tonight is an awakening.

-Amber Tamblyn

Last night on the Golden Globes red carpet, many of the stars wore black in honor of a new movement called #TimesUp, stemmed from the #MeToo movement. #TimesUp, which launched on January 1st, 2018, is an organization calling out sexual harassment, assault, and inequality in the workplace. The organizers, who are women in the entertainment industry as well as activists, have set up a legal defense fund to help women and men across all industries get the help and support they need in combating inappropriate behavior and seeking justice. As of the time this post is published, the fund has raised over $16 million. While much of Hollywood was celebrating the best of film and television last night, they are also making a stance and creating change in their industry which has been rocked by many scandals these last few months. No longer are these women being silenced by powerful men and threats of legal action if they spoke of what had happened to them. Their voices are being heard, supported, and believed. Time's up.

As I was watching the stars walk down the red carpet, some alongside leading activists involved in both the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, I couldn't help but think about how incredible it is to see so many actors use their platform to call out issues that have been going on for far too long in industries all around the globe. What a time to be alive, I kept on thinking to myself. This is more than just Hollywood but these people realize the influence they have on society and are speaking up in hopes that the women and men who have stories and don't feel as though their voice would be heard will feel less afraid to speak up. By acknowledging what has been happening in their industry, these actors and activists are having a significant impact our culture. Time's up.

Throughout the three hour event, I watched and thought about the stories we tell ourselves and the stories we're told. The Golden Globes are meant to celebrate the art of storytelling and the people who are apart of bringing so many brilliant stories to life. In many of the acceptance speeches, the mention of women's stories being in increment part of the storytelling process was repeatedly brought up. Hollywood is still very much a male-dominated industry where only a small percentage of women actually get to tell the stories they create. There's still a long way to go. However, with the success of films such as Wonder Woman and Lady Bird (both directed by women) and television shows like The Handmaid's Tale and Big Little Lies (both adaptations of books written by women), stories about complex and multilayered women and the relationships they have with each other and themselves are being seen and well received by audiences and critics. How we want to be seen by others vs who we actually are. How to find strength when living in a society where you have no control. Understanding the powers you have and learning how to use them to help others. Knowing you want to go somewhere without having the destination in mind. The four stories I mentioned grapple with these questions. The women in these stories may reflect versions of ourselves or women that we have in our lives. The stories we tell ourselves and the stories we're told have a tremendous impact on how we view ourselves and everything around us. Time's up.

     

There are moments throughout history that shift the current culture of the time. #MeToo and #TimesUp are changing the way we discuss and treat sexual harassment and assault in our society. Men in powerful positions are being held accountable and given consequences for their inexcusable actions. Women are standing up against inequality in the workplace. With the help of social media, people are being heard and change is being made. We're progressing in hopes for a better tomorrow. Last night, Oprah Winfrey received the Cecil B. de Mille Award and gave an intelligent and moving speech. Her words gave me hope and made me tear up. Her speech cemented this shift in our current culture and the ways we're learning to do better than the generations before us. I hope mothers will show to their daughters Oprah's speech and talk about what is happening in our society. I hope they will discuss the significance of why so many celebrities wore black on the red carpet and how important it is to speak up regardless of what anyone tells you. Because time is up.

"So I want all the girls watching here, now, to know that a new day is on the horizon! And when that new day finally dawns, it will be because of a lot of magnificent women, many of whom are right here in this room tonight, and some pretty phenomenal men, fighting hard to make sure that they become the leaders who take us to the time when nobody ever has to say "Me too" again."

-Oprah Winfrey

Learn more about the Time's Up movement and their Legal Defense Fund.