Although the march was crowded with an estimate of 500,000 to 1 million people, I felt I was individually contributing to a bigger cause (along with 1.5% of the world's population) that could make real change. The sheer amount of passion and human generosity that was present there was almost overwhelming. From babies to women in their nineties, thousands of people spoke up for what they thought was right. The march gave me hope for future generations and mine, showing that we are truly able to make a change.
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When given the option to research or present a topic of my own choice in class, I always direct my focus towards women's rights. In U.S. History my sophomore year, I chose to write my final research paper on Anita Hill's sexual harassment case against impending Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, and the unjust way her testimony was essentially discarded. I chose to focus not on the resolution of the case, which swung in Thomas's favor, but the large impact Hill made on women in the US, showing them that they should not stay silent. Sexual harassment's stigma now is nothing compared to the "women's problem" it was kindly referred to as in the 1900's. From 1991, the year following Hill's case, to 1996, sexual harassment claims doubled. 1992 was dubbed the "Year of the Woman" as an increase in women's political participation and superior employment occurred. Articles, videos, and even a book by Anita Hill herself, Speaking Truth to Power, showed me that one courageous woman can cause a ripple effect across the country.
If you would like to read my full paper, click the link below. |