In a time when technology has enabled conversations to shift an entire culture, women have finally benefited. Recently, I was lamenting to someone about a post I saw on Facebook written by an angry white woman hell bent on chastising white people for ‘stealing cultures’ during the Halloween season. She felt that people who dressed their little white girls in Moana costumes were misguided and ignorant. I thought Moana was a Disney character known for her power and drive to save everyone and her general kick ass nature; not just the colour of her skin. Hmmm, maybe I was wrong? And although the comments under her post were entertaining, they also seemed like a fascinating waste of valuable dialogue. But who am I to say any of the conversations being had online are a waste of time? So, without leaving a comment, I kept scrolling, wondering if my son’s teepee from Pottery Barn made me an ignorant, white idiot. I realized though, that this was exactly the point: it got me thinking, which leads to awareness, which leads to change.
The past year has brought a major shift in the way women are talking about their experiences. I started The Purple Fig because I was getting bored of how very little women seemed to speak about how ‘things really are’ online. That was six years ago and now, well, speaking our truth has never been so widely accepted and celebrated. The Me Too movement has pushed a rickety, old clunker into gear, moving the balance closer to the centre for women. If awareness is achieved, an entire culture can change.
Last night represented an immense amount of female power and awareness. In first place for the most tear-jerking, girl power speech of the evening goes to none other than the Queen of important dialogue: Oprah Winfrey. Check out other highlights of women last night.
Oprah’s epic speech:
Natalie Portman says what everyone else was thinking:
Seth Meyers’ Monologue and his hilarious nods to women:
