The year 2013 was a heck of a year for feminism. Because we're often primed to focus on how far we've got to go, I wanted to give us a reason to celebrate how far we've come. We've had some amazing victories this year, so let's take a minute to soak it all in and celebrate the greatest moments!
1. Jennifer Lawrence Inspired Women to Love Their Bodies
4. Beyoncé Came Out as a Proud Feminist
1. Jennifer Lawrence Inspired Women to Love Their Bodies
After one of her superiors threatened to fire her if she didn't slim down, Jennifer Lawrence was pretty angry. She told Harper's Bazaar UK that "If anybody even tries to whisper the word 'diet,' I’m like, 'You can go f**k yourself.'" This inspired young women across the country to do the same thing.
If J-Law can do it, why can't we?
3. Amy Poehler and Tina Fey Made Us Pee Our Pants
After Seth McFarlane ruined the Oscars and made women across the country check their clocks to make sure the year was 2013 and not 1962, the world really needed someone to host an award show without saying the word "boobs" 17 times. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler came in like a breath of feminist fresh air, and they were so successful that they were immediately booked for the next two Golden Globes, proving once and for all that anyone who still believes women aren't funny is completely crazy.
3. Amy Poehler and Tina Fey Made Us Pee Our Pants
After Seth McFarlane ruined the Oscars and made women across the country check their clocks to make sure the year was 2013 and not 1962, the world really needed someone to host an award show without saying the word "boobs" 17 times. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler came in like a breath of feminist fresh air, and they were so successful that they were immediately booked for the next two Golden Globes, proving once and for all that anyone who still believes women aren't funny is completely crazy.
4. Beyoncé Came Out as a Proud Feminist
In an interview with Vogue UK this May, the star said, "I guess I am a modern-day feminist. I do believe in equality. Why do you have to choose what type of woman you are? Why do you have to label yourself anything? I'm just a woman and I love being a woman."
Boom.
9. Wendy Davis Performed a Historic Filibuster and Became a Feminist Hero
After Republicans tried to pass an anti-choice abortion bill that would shut down one-third of abortion clinics in Texas, Davis took it upon herself to filibuster the heck out of that law. More than 200,000 people watched the livestream and, at times, Davis' heroics sparked 1,700 tweets a minute using the #StandWithWendy hashtag. The legislation ended up passing over the summer, but Davis has vowed to run for governor and reverse that bill the minute she gets into office.
27. "Orange is The New Black" Premiered, Featuring the Amazing Laverne Cox
Orange is the New Black, a groundbreaking show that premiered in July, was hailed as first-of-its-kind for numerous reasons. It features a huge cast of women who are as complex as they are diverse. There are a lot of reasons to love this show, but our favorite is Laverne Cox, who is the first trans woman of color to have a leading role on a mainstream, scripted television show. The show returns again in January, and we are all pumped!
9. Wendy Davis Performed a Historic Filibuster and Became a Feminist Hero
After Republicans tried to pass an anti-choice abortion bill that would shut down one-third of abortion clinics in Texas, Davis took it upon herself to filibuster the heck out of that law. More than 200,000 people watched the livestream and, at times, Davis' heroics sparked 1,700 tweets a minute using the #StandWithWendy hashtag. The legislation ended up passing over the summer, but Davis has vowed to run for governor and reverse that bill the minute she gets into office.
27. "Orange is The New Black" Premiered, Featuring the Amazing Laverne Cox
Orange is the New Black, a groundbreaking show that premiered in July, was hailed as first-of-its-kind for numerous reasons. It features a huge cast of women who are as complex as they are diverse. There are a lot of reasons to love this show, but our favorite is Laverne Cox, who is the first trans woman of color to have a leading role on a mainstream, scripted television show. The show returns again in January, and we are all pumped!