#MeToo
As a teenage girl living in a society where sexual assault and sexual harassment has been normalized to the point where these experiences are deemed to be "okay" and something "everyone goes through," I felt the need to use my platform to create a powerful piece about my own, as well as my classmates and other victims, experiences. Over the last week, in specific, guys and girls living in my school district have come forward with their stories and their experiences. For the first time, this topic on sexual harassment and sexual assault is finally being brought to the lime light and discussed about. For the first time, we are holding abusers accountable and we are calling guys and girls out, alike, for their repulsive actions that have forever scarred our classmates and our friends. It has been absolutely incredible to see all these victims come forward and create this comforting environment for everyone to feed into. I am so incredibly proud of the change I've seen in the guys and the girls; it's been very moving for someone who can relate to a lot of these victims coming forward. I decided to take this movement and turn it into art. My art work depicts the #MeToo movement and the struggle victims have faced all throughout their lives. The androgynous figure on the top left represent victims in general, of any gender, and how they are forced to remain silence through various means, which are all written out on the piece of duct tape. The rose on the right hand side represents victims - they're though to be delicate and dainty, in the need of protection, hence the rose. However, once they use their voice and their platform to step out and step forward, they bring forth a storm - hence the blood dripping out of the hands of their abusers. The petals of the rose falling down represent how victims lost a piece of themselves everytime they experience assault/harassment. The bottom of the canvas has been cut out and instead replaced with shattered glass. This represents the glass ceiling that victims have been forced under; they are finally pushing forward and breaking the glass that has kept them captive. They are taking ownership of their lives and their experiences. The hands at the bottom of the piece represent how so many victims of all ages, genders, backgrounds, ethnicities, and religions are able to relate and step forward, whether or not they are victims themselves or just supporters of this cause. It has been incredible to see how much the #MeToo movement has led to change and how it has positively impacted the lives of millions on a global level. I'm so lucky to have been given the platform I have. I'm so lucky to have been able to use my talents to bring awareness and spread the message of a cause I stand behind and support.
