In today’s sociopolitical arena, gender inequality has prevailed as a prominent topic.  For many women of all ages, ethnicities, and races, the urge to combat said inequality comes in the form of peaceful protest unified under the very differences that bring a significant cause to the media’s attention. On January 21, 2017, women and women’s rights progressivists gathered in major cities across the country to exercise their first amendment rights. Armed with the power of unity and the determination for change, women marched for two general reasons: to emphasize the cause of specific women’s rights and to illuminate the fact that social justice and human rights issues today affect everyone, regardless of gender.

Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”. Many activists echoed this sentiment as they marched for a cause that matters deeply to them. According to the National Organization for Women (NOW), “The subject of the gender gap is often something most people try to turn away from; [however,] simply turning your back to this problem does not offer a solution. Women from all walks of life face [obstacles] such as body shaming [and] distorted conceptions of gender roles based from mass social media, and in many instances are being valued less than their male counterparts in the labor force. ”

For today’s youth, the Women’s March serves as a prime example of how to bring about change. With Washington, D.C., drawing approximately 500,000 protesters alone, the statement made around the world remains vivid. Women will refuse to sit quietly until they receive proper treatment and feel they are heard. Male protesters also echoed the sentiment against injustice at the march, bolstering the idea that “women’s rights” are actually human rights.

With #WhyWeMarch trending across social media platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram, clearly people who wish to enact change will continue to non-violently protest by participating in marches and similar activities in the future. As several Midlothian High School students and their families participated in the recent march, it goes without saying that the message heard across the world on January 21st resonates with Americans.