If the Golden Globes have taught us anything, it's that we still have a long way to go.
Why? Because the internet was calling out Kate Hudson for wearing a sheer dress. Yes, that's right. Her solidarity doesn't seem to count because we may or may not be able to see her breasts.
Not the dress I'd wear when boycotting sexual harassment.??? Debi Jenkins (@DebiJenkins) January 8, 2018
But it's exactly the dress that she should wear because, as a woman "boycotting sexual harassment", she sends a message that victims are not to blame. Your outfit has nothing to do with it. If you've experienced sexual harassment, it is not your fault.
Rape or assault is caused by the people who choose to rape and assault others. There is no dress that prevents abuse. There is no dress code for those who want to make a change.
One twitter user remarked, "in black for harassment with her boobs out." Yes, Becky. Her "boobs are out", and it changes nothing.
In black for harassment with her boobs out??? Becky P (@BeckyPetropoulo) January 8, 2018
Our society has a huge problem coming to terms with female autonomy, and when the criticism comes from other women, it hurts those who are victims and it hurts those trying to find the courage to stand up.
Women are not raped or assaulted for drinking too much or too little, for going out or staying home, for walking around at any time of day or night, for wearing or not wearing make up, for the length of their skirts or the cut of their shirts.
When a woman chooses to stand up, what she has chosen to wear while standing up, is irrelevant.
Young women are finding solidarity and even comfort in seeing the traditional, patriarchal assertion of power shut down in mainstream media. Every new voice that speaks up shines a light in the dark that surrounds sexual harassment. Yes, the women that I see on the red carpet are famous and influential. Their Hollywood status makes makes their voices louder, but how can this be viewed as anything other than advantageous?
Women shutting down women only gives men the platform to do it too. Replies, such as this one, to Michelle Malkin's twitter post, "Don't want to be treated like boobs? Maybe you should have thought twice about letting them all hang out', is exactly why we've reached this moment. Times Up on sexual harassment and shaming of women, that includes Twitter.
Dear "fierce" #GoldenGlobes starlets,
Don't want to be treated like boobs? Maybe you should have thought twice about letting them all hang out in the first place.
More: https://t.co/dIGPNcpzCW pic.twitter.com/CXF7AyasVr??? CRTV (@CRTV) January 7, 2018
