There’s A Powerful Detail You’ve Probably Missed On Time Magazine’s Cover That Named #MeToo As Person Of The Year
TIME magazine has honored the women and men who made moves against sexual harassment and assault by naming the #MeToo movement as its 2017 Person of the Year. The magazine’s cover featured five prominent women in the movement: Ashley Judd, Taylor Swift, Susan Fowler, Adama Iwu, and Isabel Pascual, whose name was changed to protect her identity. If you look closely, however, you’ll also see an elbow of an anonymous person. It’s not a mistake.
In an interview for Today, Time Editor-in-Chief Edward Felsenthal discussed the woman whose face is obscured, noting that she’s symbolic of all those people who have yet to come forward and may be struggling to do so for fear of repercussions.
It is important for these people to understand that they’re not alone. “This is the fastest moving social change we’ve seen in decades and it began with individual acts of courage by hundreds of women – and some men, too – who came forward to tell their own stories,” Felsenthal told NBC News, calling them “the silence breakers.”
“These silence breakers have started a revolution of refusal, gathering strength by the day, and in the past two months alone,” TIME wrote. “Their collective anger has spurred immediate and shocking results: nearly every day, CEOs have been fired, moguls toppled, icons disgraced. In some cases, criminal charges have been brought.”
Time’s 2017 Person of the Year cover features “The Silence Breakers”
And there’s a powerful hidden message that resonated with readers
The internet fell in love with the clever symbolism
In his interview with Today, Time editor in Chief Edward Felsenthal explained the idea
“Were we supposed to call some fantasy attorney general of moviedom?” – Ashley Judd, 49, actor
Judd says she was sexually harassed by Harvey Weinstein when she was 29 years old.
“We need to formalize the whisper network. It’s an ingenious way that we’ve tried to keep ourselves safe. All those voices can be amplified. That’s my advice to women. That and if something feels wrong, it is wrong—and it’s wrong by my definition and not necessarily someone else’s.”
Weinstein said in a statement he ‘never laid a glove’ on Judd.
“When Trump won the election, I felt a crushing sense of powerlessness. And then I realized that I had to do something.” – Susan Fowler, 26, former Uber engineer
Fowler’s February blog post about the harassment she experienced as an engineer at Uber went viral. Uber then launched an investigation that led to the ousting of its CEO Travis Kalanick and more than 20 other employees.
“When other women spoke out, they were retaliated against. So there were certain things that I thought I could avoid: ‘I’m not going to sue, because they’ll make me sign a nondisclosure agreement. I’m not going to do press right afterward, because they’ll say I’m doing it for attention. I can’t have any emotion in my blog. I have to be very, very detached.’ And I had to make sure that every single thing that I included in there had extensive physical documentation, so it couldn’t be ‘he said, she said.’ And that’s what I did.”
“When I testified, I had already had to watch this man’s attorney bully, badger and harass my team, including my mother… I was angry.” – Taylor Swift, 27, singer-songwriter
Radio DJ David Mueller groped Swift during a photo op in 2013. She reported him to his radio station, KYGO, and he was terminated. He said her accusations were false and sued Swift. She countersued for $1 and won.
“In that moment, I decided to forgo any courtroom formalities and just answer the questions the way it happened. This man hadn’t considered any formalities when he assaulted me … Why should I be polite?”
Mueller’s lawyer did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Adama Iwu, 40, lobbyist
Iwu organized an open letter signed by 147 women calling out harassment in California’s capital, which launched a state-senate investigation.
“Young women told me about the same men who harassed me years ago. And all I did was participate in the whisper network: ‘Here’s what you can wear,’ ‘Here’s where you can go,’ ‘Here’s who to avoid.’ But you have to address it head on and as a group. It’s hard to call 147 women liars. We can’t all be crazy. We can’t all be sluts.”
“It doesn’t matter if they criticize me. I can support other people who are going through the same thing.” – Isabel Pascual, 42, strawberry picker
“I stayed anonymous because I live in a very small community. And they just think usually that we’re lying and complainers.” – Anonymous, 22, former office assistant
After a co-worker allegedly began kissing and pressing himself on her, this young Native American woman says she felt trapped. Her office had no HR department. She didn’t feel her colleagues or family on her small, conservative reservation would believe her. So she quit her job.
“On the reservation, we keep to ourselves and don’t really put too much out there. I thought of all the other people that had no voice. They’re scared to do something like this because their parents say, ‘You’re not supposed to do that. You’re not supposed to speak up.'”
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Share on FacebookRose McGowan should also have been included on the cover. She has been quite instrumental in bringing many of these predators to light, and encouraging many other women to forward with their stories.
I was just thinking that. She really was one of the biggest voices for getting the media to pay attention.
Load More Replies...I would find it somewhat unbelievable that some women have never been harassed. My worst experience was at my husband's company party one year. I was 8 months pregnant & should have worn shoe boxes on my feet, they were that swollen. I was asked to dance , was groped & asked to go to a room . I knew I had done nothing wrong , but, I sure was angry, but , we decided to let it pass.
well, I've never been harassed. Ever. And I work in IT so my collegues are mostly men.
Load More Replies...I have always been silent along with thousands of women who were sexually abused. Because I said no, I was fired, lost my house, car and had 3 children at the time. FBI investigated, those people were fired, but nothing good happened to me.
I'm just happy other people noticed this as well
Load More Replies...Madonna sexual harassed a minor live on stage,you can google it and there is a video of it.She pulled the clothes of a girl down so her breast was revealed.She made it in front of thousands of people.I am aware that 99% of sexual harassment is done by men but i find it disappointing that some people get away with it,even if it is caught on tape.
lala la,do you even know what i am talking about?accident?go and watch the video or at least read the article before you write something like this.
Load More Replies...I guess male victims of sexual assault will have to wait a little longer for recognition
I'm thinking about those Kevin Spacey allegations that have come up. They've definitely got news recognition, but I totally get where you're coming from when you compare them to the Cosby and Weinstein cases.
Load More Replies...As the husband of a courageous woman who spoke up about her sexual abuser, I feel a sense of immense pride in every woman who has found the courage to stand up, and a sense of sadness that they have to stand up in the first place.
During the summer before my high school senior year, I was a clerk hired via a government sponsored summer job program at a non-profit organization for at-risk youths. One of the supervisors there pinched my butt.
You're right Bill Peterson. These women aren't hero's. They're rats fleeing a sinking ship known as Success. Not a one of them stood up as the generations of women delt with the "abuse" they claim to have endured. Shut the f**k up and do your job. All of us have S****y aspects of making a living wage and all of you are killing it and still complaining. How about the working man or woman? I don't give a s**t about all these millionaires complaining about sexual harassment while all of these middle class and lower workers (male and female, mainly male) are being subjected to the same, if not worse, s**t. My husband is a person too just like I am. F**k everyone saying women are the only ones getting the s**t end of the stick.
All of these women are ruining things for the rest of us. We've had a great thing going thus far. Men take care of us and only cause problems when we as a gender deny them the fun we both enjoy. What the f**k is wrong with being wanted? Don't be such a prude Taylor, you b***h. We should be thankful for men! They give us all what we need.
You should damn yourself, for having known this for ever and ever and ever .... it is no surprise ! But it is just how the business went. Not affecting us. But great movies. All knew. Or at least though it might be. As much as you are complaining here, it is a lot about voting. Still persons are voted with over 50% that have a sexual assaulting background.
Umm, didn't he (and his accuser) already have his day in court?
Load More Replies...If, by remaining silent, that silence allowed others to be abused; well, that is not to be celebrated. Imagine the next woman up, who now knows that if that first woman had spoke out, she would have never been in the situation she was placed in. Imagine being her. And if she remained silent, then there is the next woman after her. It's a cycle. We, as women, have a responsibility to each other to speak out. If we don't, well, we all carry a bit of responsibility for what happens because of our silence. Don't make women, who remained silent, out to be some kind of heroes, for they don't fit that definition. Remaining silent, and then suddenly coming forward because it's the "in thing to do" does not make you a person of the year. Come forward because it is the right thing to do, at the time it happens. Then, what if some of these stories are not true? Who is looking into what is truth and what is not? Some men could be wrongly accused and they will be branded by the media as guilty.
I agree that in order for the yearly governmental statistics to portray a truthful state of all that is happening in society, however there's this unidentified invisible global corporate who instructs people to hinder people who tell the truth. So, if the struggles of some women make people tell them that they are heroines in their eyes, than that's what they can take home for coming forward ! (you too, Hulie, are a little bit a heroine in my eyes ;-) )
Load More Replies...Not really being a sexual person myself it's always kind of weird to read about things like this. Do people do these abhorrant things because lust makes them strange in the head or more to control others I wonder? I suspect it's most about power.
For sure it's about power. When you are loaded and powerful it's not that hard to find a lady. I suspect some of them were rejected by ladies when they were nobody, so now that they're somebody they need that feeling of control and power. It's sad.
Load More Replies...I think the elbow was Juanita Broadrrick. Or Paula Jones. Or Kathleen Willey...
What about the MEN!!!??? Why does that get overlooked so flipping much??? It is just as terrible for a man to be sexually abused/harassed/exploited and for some god forsaken reason they ALWAYS get left out of this conversation it's disgusting and it really shows that we haven't come as far as we'd all like to think we have!!
Too bad so few of them broke their silence in time to save others from similar fates.
I struggle as a woman with Ashley Judd. She had a lot to say about Trump including her screaming "p grab" speech but she stayed silent about Harvey for decades.
Not to mention Bill Clinton and the horrible way those women were treated when they came forward.
Load More Replies...you just never stop dude. just shut the f**k up..
Load More Replies...As a European I would point out sexual harassment is not and never has been an 'American' problem. It's just as bad here in Europe. Look at the way girls being abused were treated in the UK and the way Kevin Spacey got away with his behaviour here until Rapp spoke up this year. From personal experience or the experience of friends France and Italy are especially bad for casual harassment, especially street harassment. I can't speak specifically for other European countries but I doubt the UK, France, and Italy are outliers and everywhere else in Europe is a utopia for women. Yes we in the UK haven't elected a confessed perpetrator of sexual assault, but we elect plenty of people who are just as bad but haven't been stupid enough to say it on tape. Italy and France have never had a problem brushing the sexual 'exploits' of their politicians under the carpet.
Load More Replies...Dawn, not everyone has your particular construction. I applaud you for taking back control. Many women are bullied and afraid to speak up or take any sort of action. There is no statute of limitations on rape or harassment. For some it takes years to recover and to open up. And, for so long, this behavior has been the status quo. Ignore, overlook, turn your back. So many women have said that they've just been viewed as complainers and trouble makers. So, again, you're an incredible woman for standing up for yourself but please remember, not everyone has been able to
Load More Replies...Rose McGowan should also have been included on the cover. She has been quite instrumental in bringing many of these predators to light, and encouraging many other women to forward with their stories.
I was just thinking that. She really was one of the biggest voices for getting the media to pay attention.
Load More Replies...I would find it somewhat unbelievable that some women have never been harassed. My worst experience was at my husband's company party one year. I was 8 months pregnant & should have worn shoe boxes on my feet, they were that swollen. I was asked to dance , was groped & asked to go to a room . I knew I had done nothing wrong , but, I sure was angry, but , we decided to let it pass.
well, I've never been harassed. Ever. And I work in IT so my collegues are mostly men.
Load More Replies...I have always been silent along with thousands of women who were sexually abused. Because I said no, I was fired, lost my house, car and had 3 children at the time. FBI investigated, those people were fired, but nothing good happened to me.
I'm just happy other people noticed this as well
Load More Replies...Madonna sexual harassed a minor live on stage,you can google it and there is a video of it.She pulled the clothes of a girl down so her breast was revealed.She made it in front of thousands of people.I am aware that 99% of sexual harassment is done by men but i find it disappointing that some people get away with it,even if it is caught on tape.
lala la,do you even know what i am talking about?accident?go and watch the video or at least read the article before you write something like this.
Load More Replies...I guess male victims of sexual assault will have to wait a little longer for recognition
I'm thinking about those Kevin Spacey allegations that have come up. They've definitely got news recognition, but I totally get where you're coming from when you compare them to the Cosby and Weinstein cases.
Load More Replies...As the husband of a courageous woman who spoke up about her sexual abuser, I feel a sense of immense pride in every woman who has found the courage to stand up, and a sense of sadness that they have to stand up in the first place.
During the summer before my high school senior year, I was a clerk hired via a government sponsored summer job program at a non-profit organization for at-risk youths. One of the supervisors there pinched my butt.
You're right Bill Peterson. These women aren't hero's. They're rats fleeing a sinking ship known as Success. Not a one of them stood up as the generations of women delt with the "abuse" they claim to have endured. Shut the f**k up and do your job. All of us have S****y aspects of making a living wage and all of you are killing it and still complaining. How about the working man or woman? I don't give a s**t about all these millionaires complaining about sexual harassment while all of these middle class and lower workers (male and female, mainly male) are being subjected to the same, if not worse, s**t. My husband is a person too just like I am. F**k everyone saying women are the only ones getting the s**t end of the stick.
All of these women are ruining things for the rest of us. We've had a great thing going thus far. Men take care of us and only cause problems when we as a gender deny them the fun we both enjoy. What the f**k is wrong with being wanted? Don't be such a prude Taylor, you b***h. We should be thankful for men! They give us all what we need.
You should damn yourself, for having known this for ever and ever and ever .... it is no surprise ! But it is just how the business went. Not affecting us. But great movies. All knew. Or at least though it might be. As much as you are complaining here, it is a lot about voting. Still persons are voted with over 50% that have a sexual assaulting background.
Umm, didn't he (and his accuser) already have his day in court?
Load More Replies...If, by remaining silent, that silence allowed others to be abused; well, that is not to be celebrated. Imagine the next woman up, who now knows that if that first woman had spoke out, she would have never been in the situation she was placed in. Imagine being her. And if she remained silent, then there is the next woman after her. It's a cycle. We, as women, have a responsibility to each other to speak out. If we don't, well, we all carry a bit of responsibility for what happens because of our silence. Don't make women, who remained silent, out to be some kind of heroes, for they don't fit that definition. Remaining silent, and then suddenly coming forward because it's the "in thing to do" does not make you a person of the year. Come forward because it is the right thing to do, at the time it happens. Then, what if some of these stories are not true? Who is looking into what is truth and what is not? Some men could be wrongly accused and they will be branded by the media as guilty.
I agree that in order for the yearly governmental statistics to portray a truthful state of all that is happening in society, however there's this unidentified invisible global corporate who instructs people to hinder people who tell the truth. So, if the struggles of some women make people tell them that they are heroines in their eyes, than that's what they can take home for coming forward ! (you too, Hulie, are a little bit a heroine in my eyes ;-) )
Load More Replies...Not really being a sexual person myself it's always kind of weird to read about things like this. Do people do these abhorrant things because lust makes them strange in the head or more to control others I wonder? I suspect it's most about power.
For sure it's about power. When you are loaded and powerful it's not that hard to find a lady. I suspect some of them were rejected by ladies when they were nobody, so now that they're somebody they need that feeling of control and power. It's sad.
Load More Replies...I think the elbow was Juanita Broadrrick. Or Paula Jones. Or Kathleen Willey...
What about the MEN!!!??? Why does that get overlooked so flipping much??? It is just as terrible for a man to be sexually abused/harassed/exploited and for some god forsaken reason they ALWAYS get left out of this conversation it's disgusting and it really shows that we haven't come as far as we'd all like to think we have!!
Too bad so few of them broke their silence in time to save others from similar fates.
I struggle as a woman with Ashley Judd. She had a lot to say about Trump including her screaming "p grab" speech but she stayed silent about Harvey for decades.
Not to mention Bill Clinton and the horrible way those women were treated when they came forward.
Load More Replies...you just never stop dude. just shut the f**k up..
Load More Replies...As a European I would point out sexual harassment is not and never has been an 'American' problem. It's just as bad here in Europe. Look at the way girls being abused were treated in the UK and the way Kevin Spacey got away with his behaviour here until Rapp spoke up this year. From personal experience or the experience of friends France and Italy are especially bad for casual harassment, especially street harassment. I can't speak specifically for other European countries but I doubt the UK, France, and Italy are outliers and everywhere else in Europe is a utopia for women. Yes we in the UK haven't elected a confessed perpetrator of sexual assault, but we elect plenty of people who are just as bad but haven't been stupid enough to say it on tape. Italy and France have never had a problem brushing the sexual 'exploits' of their politicians under the carpet.
Load More Replies...Dawn, not everyone has your particular construction. I applaud you for taking back control. Many women are bullied and afraid to speak up or take any sort of action. There is no statute of limitations on rape or harassment. For some it takes years to recover and to open up. And, for so long, this behavior has been the status quo. Ignore, overlook, turn your back. So many women have said that they've just been viewed as complainers and trouble makers. So, again, you're an incredible woman for standing up for yourself but please remember, not everyone has been able to
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