Person of the Year: Time honours abuse
'silence breakers'
Time magazine has named "the Silence Breakers" -
women who spoke out against sexual abuse and
harassment - as its "Person of the Year".
The movement is most closely associated with the
#MeToo hashtag which sprung up as allegations
emerged against Hollywood producer Harvey
Weinstein.
But Time says the hashtag is "part of the picture,
but not all of it".
"This is the fastest-moving social change we've
seen in decades," editor-in-chief Edward Felsenthal
said.
He told NBC's Today programme that it "began with
individual acts of courage by hundreds of women -
and some men, too - who came forward to tell their
own stories".
The magazine illustrates the ubiquitous nature of
sexual harassment by showcasing women from
markedly different backgrounds on its cover.
Two celebrities are featured - Ashley Judd, one of
the first to speak out against Mr Weinstein, and pop
singer Taylor Swift, who won a civil case against an
ex-DJ who she said had grabbed her bottom.
They are shown alongside Isabel Pascual, a 42-
year-old strawberry picker from Mexico (not her real
name); Adama Iwu, a 40-year-old corporate lobbyist
in Sacramento; and Susan Fowler, 26, a former Uber
engineer whose allegation brought down Uber's
CEO.
But many more people are identified as part of the
movement behind the cover shot.
BBC Trending: How 'MeToo' is exposing the
scale of sexual abuse
Why women fear a backlash over #MeToo
This "moment", the magazine says, "doesn't have a
leader, or a single, unifying tenet. The hashtag
#MeToo (swiftly adapted into #BalanceTonPorc,
#YoTambien, #Ana_kaman and many others), which
to date has provided an umbrella of solidarity for
millions of people to come forward with their
stories, is part of the picture, but not all of it...
"The women and men who have broken their
silence span all races, all income classes, all
occupations and virtually all corners of the globe."
But, it says, collectively they have helped turn
shame into outrage and fear into fury, put thousands
of people on to the streets demanding change, and
seen a slew of powerful men held accountable for
their behaviour.
Those featured include Tarana Burke, the activist
who created the #MeToo hashtag more than a
decade ago, the actor Alyssa Milano who helped it
explode on social media last October, actor Terry
Crews , a group of hotel workers who have filed a
lawsuit against their employer, State Senator Sara
Gelser, an anonymous hospital worker who fears
losing her job if she speaks openly, and Megyn
Kelly, the former Fox News journalist whom Donald
Trump accused of having "blood coming out of her
eyes, blood coming out of her wherever" after she
moderated a debate during the presidential
campaign.
Ironically, President Trump - whose election Ms
Kelly said was a "setback for women" that helps
explain the #MeToo movement - was named as
runner-up for Person of the Year this year, having
been given the title last year.
The magazine's tradition - begun in 1927 as "Man
of the Year" - recognises the person who "for better
or for worse... has done the most to influence the
events of the year".
The great majority of people selected have been
individuals - but by no means all. In 2014, "Ebola
fighters" were recognised while in 2011 "The
Protester" acknowledged the significance of the so-
called Arab Spring.
It was in 1950, the magazine explains, that the
"mould was broken" and "The American fighting-
man" was chosen , to be followed by Hungarians in
1956 and later on Scientists, Americans under 25
and Mr and Mrs Middle America.
In 2006, the Person of the Year was simply "You",
with a mirror cover design, reflecting the importance
of user-generated internet content.
Why are British Muslim marriages unprotected by law? FEATURE / ISLAM MUSLIM MARRIAGE IN THE UK 60 percent Muslim marriages religious-only, unregistered 28 percent do not realise Islamic ceremony not legally recognised 66 percent know union has no legal status 50 percent do not intend to have marriage legalised - Source: Channel 4 survey Aina Khan Aina Khan is a journalist focusing on race, faith and identity. She's reading a masters in religion in politics at SOAS. @ ainajkhan United Kingdom Islam Europe, Maureen, right, was not entitled to financial support after her husband Rashid - the father of her child - passed away [Courtesy: Maureen] London, England - When Maureen wed her husband Rashid in a Muslim ceremony in 1973 in Bradford, she knew that should the relationship fall apart, she would not be entitled to share his assets. Her marriage was sanctified in the eyes of God, but in the eyes of the state it was "unregistered", not legal, and so financial protection...
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