Source: Forbes.com
As 2018 rolled in, my Instagram feed was filled with celebrities and influencers introducing the #TIMESUP movement, a campaign actively calling out the gender bias that is prevalent within the workforce and encouraging women to stand up against pay disparity and sexual harassment and assault. The movement, which has no doubt taken time and effort to plan, seems to have already set the tone for this year, not only gaining traction in celebrity circles, but also amongst those of us who don’t have an aura of fame. Women all around the world now have the confidence to speak up about receiving less than our male counterparts and about previous or ongoing sexual assaults.
After the tumultuous end to 2017, which saw a slew of high profile men accused of sexual assault, the solidarity and support women are offering or being offered is a truly welcome sight. The #metoo campaign gave both men and women the chance to share their stories about being harassed or assaulted, while also letting others know they aren’t alone. It’s campaigns like #metoo and #TIMESUP that shows society is no longer willing to overlook these injustices and that we want to create a world where everyone can feel safe and valued. It appears that 2018 is the year for change.
We definitely saw change yesterday when a majority of celebrities arrived to the Golden Globe wearing black, as a way of showing they stood in solidarity with the sexual assault victims. However, the dress code wasn’t the only thing that changed. As opposed to the generic questions like "who are you wearing" and being asked to twirl in front of the camera, women were repeatedly asked why they were wearing black and what this movement meant to them. What is typically a fashion-centric event that is often criticised for its objectification of women became the opportunity for everyone to make a statement and have their voice heard.
This lack of a fashion focus wasn’t only evident on the red carpet, but also in fashion outlets’ coverage of the awards ceremony. While most fashion magazines and blogs would usually delve into a fashion analysis and produce best and worst dressed lists, this type of coverage was noticeably absent from today’s news with most outlets making the conscious effort not to engage in it. Instead, they focused on the powerful speeches given and reminded readers the importance of this year’s ceremony. This showed that they too were standing in solidarity.
However, while they refrained from commenting on the attendee’s fashion choices during the ceremony, some outlets began commenting on people’s outfits during their coverage of the Golden Globes after party. To me, the fashion critique blackout should’ve continued. While walking the red carpet on their way to the festivities, celebrities showed up in the black dress code and as such, the conversation should’ve continued to focus on what the #TIMESUP and #metoo movements stand for. Coverage of the red carpet is broadcasted to most countries live or with a small delay. This allows celebrities to reach a global audience and to convey the message they want to convey. The after party red carpet isn’t broadcasted and most people receive coverage through online outlets, which typically feature still photographs. We often don’t get to see or hear what is being said or done, or we do so through the articles written by these outlets. By choosing to switch our attention to what they’re wearing, attention was redirected away from where it is needed most. January and February are filled with awards ceremonies, which is why they’re often referred to as awards season. This means that there are plenty of opportunities to talk about fashion in the upcoming weeks.
Right now, we need to focus on the prevalence of sexual assault, not who was best dressed.