Why I Marched

Never have I seen an election or inauguration in the United States fraught with so much tension and division. Trump is not who I would have liked to see win. But he did. I hope he does a good job as POTUS. This is not why I marched.

We could argue politics all day. Views on climate change, international relations, email scandals – the list is endless. This is not why I marched.

I marched because I was still in primary school when an older boy “grabbed me by the pussy”, and when I told a teacher she told me I shouldn’t have been wearing a skirt to school, I should wear shorts or pants instead.

I marched because I can get a good education and a fantastic job, but still only earn 84c for every dollar a man earns in this country.

I marched because I get catcalled on a regular basis due to the size of my breasts and this made me feel unsafe breastfeeding my own child anywhere outside of my own home.

I marched because it is still unsafe to walk home alone at night without fear of assault. Because women are assaulted, raped and left for dead on a daily basis. Because one in five women in NZ will experience domestic violence during their lifetime. Because if you’re an athlete you can rape a woman who is unconscious and only serve three months in prison. Because I want my son to grow up knowing that women are not objects to be grabbed. Because being feminine is somehow degrading and used as a slur: eg; you run like a girl, hit like a girl, cry like a girl. Because we’re told we have to pay GST on pads and tampons since they’re a luxury item – apparently having blood oozing down your leg is an acceptable option. Because I want the next generation of women to live in a safer, better and more equal world than the one I live in.

More than two million people marched around the globe, all sharing these fundamental views. We stood together in solidarity, vibrancy and diversity.The energy sparked by this movement has brought many women a sense of hope and togetherness. It was glorious, powerful, inspiring and uplifting. The election of Trump didn’t bring anything new into the arena. These problems were all there before. However it did clarify many of the challenges that women and other minorities are really up against. And this march proved that we are all up to the challenge.