Over 300 amazing and talented women have come forward to create Time’s Up, a powerful anti-harassment movement on the behalf of women in the entertainment industry to support working-class women, The New York Times reports. The movement features a Letter of Solidarity, pledging their support, as well as a Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund to empower underprivileged women who are victims of sexual harassment.
Tina Tchen, who served as Michelle Obama’s chief of staff, joins the ranks of women such as Reese Witherspoon, Kerry Washington, Eva Longoria and more to support women everywhere according to NY Times, and Mrs. Obama gave her the sweetest shout-out on Twitter Wednesday afternoon.
So proud of my friend and former chief of staff @TinaTchen and the other strong women banding together to fight sexual harassment, and protect the women who are courageously coming forward. #timesup https://t.co/Qb1ty2bZ9s
— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) January 3, 2018
“So proud of my friend and former chief of staff @TinaTchen and the other strong women banding together to fight sexual harassment, and protect the women who are courageously coming forward. #timesup,” Obama writes in her tweet.
The New York Times reports that Tchen is “spearheading” the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund, which is backed by $13 million in donations from donors including Witherspoon, Meryl Streep, Steven Spielberg, and talent agencies such as ICM Partners. The fund is administered by the National Women’s Law Center’s Legal Network for Gender Equity and is designed to connect female victims with lawyers and protect less privileged women from fallout.
“We also want all victims and survivors to be able to access justice and support for the wrongdoing they have endured,” The Letter of Solidarity reads. “We particularly want to life up the voices, power, and strength of women working in low-wage industries where the lack of financial stability makes them vulnerable to high rates of gender-based violence and exploitation.” Tchen responded to Obama, spreading awareness to those seeking volunteer opportunities and other ways to become involved.
Thanks my forever Boss! And those seeking help or wanting to volunteer can submit information at National Women’s Law Center site, https://t.co/N5RTFTVuex. #TimesUp https://t.co/lt6ZsWJkg9
— Tina Tchen (@TinaTchen) January 4, 2018
“Thanks my forever Boss! And those seeking help or wanting to volunteer can submit information at National Women’s Law Center site, http://nwlc.org. #TimesUp,” Tchen tweets.
I, for one, cannot think of a more badass group of women creating such a powerful and supportive movement for female victims of sexual harassment in the workplace. Let’s learn from 2017 and create a ripple effect of support for women in 2018.