This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Aberdeen chapter.

8 Times Women Rocked 2017 And It Rocked For Them

source: https://nerdist.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Pic.jpg

We’re well into 2018 now but 2017 still deserves a little bit of attention every once in a while! 2017 wasn’t the best year for a lot of reasons, from the terror attacks across the world to the many counts of sexual abuse allegations that were uncovered, and this can make the world seem rather dark and gloomy. So instead, I’m going to focus on some of the amazing things women did that made 2017 a truly tremendous year to be female!

#MeToo
Let’s start with a big one: The #MeToo movement. When Rose McGowan broke Hollywood’s decades-long silence on Harvey Weinstein’s systematic abuse of actresses and other women, it rocked not just the entertainment industry but the whole world. It set in motion a series of events that McGowan could hardly have foreseen: hundreds of thousands of women coming forward to courageously share their stories. While the stories of abuse are truly horrifying, the courage and strength shown by women around the world is incredible and will hopefully lead to a better, safer, and more aware world for women everywhere!
Wonder Woman smashed records with a female director!
Not only was Wonder Woman one of the highest grossing films of the year, it is the highest grossing film with a female director ever! This has catapulted director Patty Jenkins to the spot of highest paid female director of all time. Even more impressively, it is the highest grossing superhero origin story ever (and yes, that includes all the Batman and Spiderman remakes there have ever been), proving that anything a man can do, Patty Jenkins can do better!
The Women’s Marches!
After Donald Trump’s inauguration at the beginning of last year, more than 6 million women in 161 cities came together and marched for women’s rights. While it isn’t the first – or unfortunately the last – time women have marched for their rights, it was a historic and empowering show of solidarity that made 2017 special for a lot of women and showed the strength that exists when women come together as one!
Lubaina Humid became the first black woman to win the Turner Prize!
Humid is only the 8th woman to have won the prestigious art competition since its conception in 1984. She is the first black woman – as well as the first person over 50 – to have ever received the prize, smashing the glass ceiling with her art which tackles issues such as modern racism and colonial history!
OneLove Manchester
In the aftermath of the terror attack at her concert, which left 22 people dead and many more injured, Ariana Grande returned to Manchester and organised one of the biggest fundraising concerts to ever take place in the UK. While the event was certainly emotional for many, it was a beautiful display of unity and hope in the face of pain and fear that would not have been possible without Grande’s willingness to help, and the efforts of the many volunteers!
“Feminism” was named word of the year!
With all the things that happened to, and were about, women over the past year, it is unsurprising that many people wanted to educate themselves about feminism. So, when it came time for Merriam-Webster to crown the most-searched word of the year there was only one worth considering: Feminism!
Saudi Arabia lifted its ban on female drivers!
This may not seem like such a big deal to many people, but for a country renowned for its antiquarian-seeming stance on women’s rights, the fact that women can now drive unaccompanied and get their license without the permission of a male guardian, is a huge step in the right direction and will hopefully lead to more reforms in future!
The Silence Breakers were named Times’ Person of the Year!
The title of Person of the Year, that in the past has predominantly gone to men (and in 2016 went to Donald Trump), was this year awarded to the heroes of the #MeToo movement, the ones who broke the silence on sexual harassment. Featured on the cover were Isabel Pascual, Ashley Judd, Adama Iwu, Susan Fowler, Taylor Swift, and the arm of a woman who did not want to be pictured and can be understood to represent the myriad of other women who have suffered from sexual assault and abuse.