I posted about this issue on my finsta (fake-Instagram, for you unhip folks), and I'm still angry.
I don't understand how some of the first reactions to "Time's Person of the Year" was to immediately call out how Taylor Swift was on the front. My tweet was "my whole heart" because I felt an instant aching in my chest. Instead I saw "why was she chosen for the cover instead of Kesha??" and how it "feels funny that Tswift is so digestible and 'lovable' that people will put her at the forefront of the movement."
Stop. Just stop.
Take a deep breath. Think about what you said.
I could dive into how Taylor is not lovable by the masses (*insert lines of snake emojis here*), how maybe Kesha didn't want to speak about her abuse, and who honestly really cares who is on the cover.
I want to talk about how you're taking the spotlight away from what really matters. Why these survivors are the Person of the Year and why their story is more important than any tweet you post. I am astonished that some people can call themselves a feminist, yet invalidate someone else's harassment -- that's messed up. That's not how it works. Be like the women in this story: link arms, respect each other, raise each other up.
Truthfully, I'm just baffled that some of the spotlight and the issue here was taken away by who was photographed for the cover (Taylor is literally in the back corner). I'm not saying I agree with the choice, but yes, Taylor's story is extremely important to this movement. Think about the thousands of little girls and young women who look up to her, who idolize her (myself included). Seeing someone like that who was able to fight for herself and the millions of women faced with this issue, is amazing. If you didn't read her interview with "Time" do so now. If you commented on her being on the cover, yet know nothing about the fact that her harasser sued her, then get your facts straight. Can you imagine being sued by someone who did that to you? No. You can't. I can't either. And as my friend said, "not liking someone is NOT a valid reason to trivialize their voice!!!!!!!"
I'm lucky I was able to take a class about violence and maltreatment in intimate relationships, because I understand even more why this is happening. I'm grateful my professor screamed "what the f--k!" in our last class, because she is just as astounded as we are that this is an ongoing issue. I'm angry because I can't just shake the world and fix it, but I'll keep that anger within me until I can. I am amazed by the women who report their abuse and fight and fight and fight for their perpetrator to be gone, to feel at peace again. I feel comforted by the fact that I can finally say Me Too.
Think less about criticizing a campaign, and more about what you can do and help to change the world. That's what matters. That's why this story matters.
