Being a victim of the atrocities that are committed against women in the US, AOC (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) is empowering women all around. She said in an interview that she has been a victim of harassment and verbal abuse. She said that the oral abuse affects her no more, however, what’s more painful is seeing how people of the U.S. are unaware of these things. She also clearly indicated that she has never submitted to male superiority and will never submit in the future as well. She plans to work in the field for women empowerment and is determined to bring the change that is well overdue.
Women Empowerment in the U.S.
Women are an integral part of society however they are still treated as less valuable than men in many settings. We are always taught that men and women are equal and each are entitled to equal rights. This includes the right to freedom, liberation, chance, opportunities, etc. However, in practice, this has not been the case. Women have been deprived of the same opportunities, rights and freedoms as men.
“This is one of the most insidious things about patriarchy – it takes the fight out of you. You let things go.”
Arwa Mahdawi, The Guardian
Many countries are seeing a surge in the protest for women empowerment in recent years. There are a multitude of known personalities such as Al-Huwaider, Malala Yousafzai, Germaine Geer, Humayra Abedin, and many others who are fighting for women empowerment and are inspiring icons for many women all over the world. Amongst such ladies, there is AOC (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) who is fighting for women empowerment in the United States as a New York City Congresswoman.
A Brief History of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is an American Politician and is also the youngest female member to serve in the U.S. Congress. She is the U.S. representative for New York’s 14th congressional district. She is also a member of the Democratic party.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is most commonly known by her initials AOC. She was born on October 13, 1989. She attended Yorktown High School. The first major political outbreak for AOC occurred in 2016 when she was selected as a potential candidate in the Brand-New Congress. She defeated Joe Crowley in the 2018 midterm election and also defeated Anthony Pappas in the November 2018 general election. She is the youngest female to ever serve in the U.S. Congress.
Since she arrived in Congress, AOC has been working on a major issue that could affect the lives of many people in the U.S. She has been actively campaigning against tax policy, environmental dangers, immigration, lack of healthcare facilities, poverty, LGBTQ+ inequality, and many other social justice issues. However, the one that is getting most of the media coverage is her new platform that will help to empower women in the U.S.
Empowering Women
AOC has been standing up for women empowerment for a long time. AOC has said many times that women are subjected to gender inequality and have in one way or another adapted to it. She asks everyone to stand with all women and help make women empowerment a reality. In one of her recent interviews, she has also said that she has been subjected to many verbal insults during her election. She also said that the objectification of women and hurling verbal obscenities at women has become a cultural part of society and people are unaware of it. She said that people are doing this because they see others doing the same and this becomes an infinite chain. She clearly says that she will change this culture and will do everything that is in her control to accomplish this goal.
“[T]his is not new, and that is the problem. This issue is not about one incident. It is cultural. It is a culture … accepting of violence and violent language against women, and an entire structure of power that supports that,” says Ocasio-Cortez.
She encourages women to stand up for themselves and says nothing will change if they don’t do something about it and remain united in their cause. She asks women to raise their voices against any sort of inequality that is done to them and raise their voices anywhere where they feel they are deprived of their rights. Many women are inspired by her speech which have gone viral over social media platforms. In her speech, she has targeted Ted Yoho and Roger Williams. She has taken a stand for women empowerment and has indicated that she will never surrender to male superiority and she will fight for women empowerment until her last breath. In her latest speech, she also targeted the President of the United States Mr. Donald Trump who told her to get out of the States during their meeting.
Here is what she had to say about men like Yoho and types of so-called apologizes they release to the public to save their name, “I could not allow my nieces, I could not allow the little girls that I go home to, I could not allow victims of verbal abuse and worse to see that — to see that excuse and to see our Congress accept it as legitimate and accept it as an apology and to accept silence as a form of acceptance.”
When the controversial incident with Yoho made the rounds, Ocasio-Cortez called out men like him who are never penalized for acting out of what they call “passion.” Unlike women, they are allowed to express themselves emotionally. Men are praised and lauded for their passion in such heated debates or in any political situation really. But women, they are called “hysterical” or “crazy.” They are forced to apologize for their passion.
Plans by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
AOC (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) is empowering women. Since AOC has taken a stand for the women empowerment, her new motto for the oncoming election would be heavily based on women empowerment. Her social media handles are filled with women empowerment and the other new things she hopes to pursue after she wins her new election. Many people have been inspired by her women empowerment speech and she continues to inspire many other women all over the world. She is working hard to change the narrative of women, particularly powerful women, in society.
“It’s about treating women with dignity, respect and civility,” says Ocasio-Cortez
