Why I Marched

Saturday, January 21, 2017 I believe will be written about for years to come. Whether it be in op-ed pieces or academic research, the Women's March on Washington and its subsequent global movement was too vast to ignore. Looking at all of the posts on social media and several news articles, I can't help but be moved by the incredible outcome, and support for the cause.

I have gone through several different versions of this post, but none quite capture everything that is in my head. I've come to accept that no matter how I write this, I won't be able to perfectly represent all my thoughts, feelings, and opinions on this movement - please, bear with me as I try to do my best.

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Why I Marched

I marched, not because I was against our current president, the man, but because I am against the divisive rhetoric of his campaign.

build bridges, not walls

I marched, because decisions about my body should not be made by people who do not know me or my situation.

my body, my choice

I marched, because I refuse to live in a world where consent is not required, and the concept not respected.

yes means yes, and no means no

I marched, because diversity should be embraced and not used as a marker of oppression.

black lives matter

I marched, because who a person loves, how they dress, or what name they call themselves shouldn't matter.

trans rights are human rights

I marched, because the world needs more compassion and understanding.

love trumps hate

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I know the march meant different things to different people - be it more, or less, or completely different than what is above. But what I think is so fantastic about what the Women's March became is that it ignited a fire in millions of people across the world. People from all walks of life banded together to show their support for equality and justice. I hope that the flame stays lit within most, if not all, of my fellow feminists.

As an expat, the globalization of this march allowed me to participate in American politics from thousands of miles away. It has also provided me with a ray of hope to share with anyone who I may meet that is wary or befuddled by the current state of our political system. 

The fight is far from over, both in the US and globally. While the symptoms vary from place to place, inequality is ubiquitous, and needs to be fought on every front. The issues cannot be addressed all at once, but need to be tackled one-by-one. This is only the beginning of this movement.

Like so many others, the Women's March was my first step down the path of activism, and I cannot wait to see where the feminist road will lead me.

Women's March in Barcelona, Spain. Sign translation: Respect my existence or expect resistance