Time for empowerment

photo provided by Google public use

photo provided by Google public use

Jenna Becker, Staff Writer

Time’s person of the year is a title only few will have the honor of securing. The award is given to the top influencers of the globe, and this year is no different. 2017’s choice recognizes the silence breakers, or all those who have spoken out against sexual assault and harassment.

Every year, Time magazine recognizes a person, group or object that has most influences the world for better or worse. Past winners include Donald Trump, Pope Francis, Barack Obama and other major impactors of the globe.

The silence breakers are those men and women who have broken their silence with the #metoo movement. Some silence breakers include the hashtag creator Tarana Burke and others like Ashley Judd, Taylor Swift, Alyssa Milano and Terry Crews. There is a long list of others a part of the movement, including a symbolic silence breaker, representing all those men and women who will join the movement to end sexual assault in the future.

This is the fastest moving social change that we’ve seen in decades and it began with individual acts of courage of hundreds of women, and some men, too, who came forward to tell their own stories of sexual harassment and assault,” said TIME’s editor-in-chief, Edward Felsenthal.

Everyone recognized has their own experience with sexual assault and harassment, and has shared their stories even with the backlash and stigma revolving around the issue. Their movement hopes to bring attention to the dark reality of sexaul assault, and encourage others to stand up against their harassers.