On Tuesday, June 14th, Michelle Obama (and the rest of her 5000+ badass crew) gathered together on Capitol Hill to address the major issues that are still impacting women in America. Although we’ve come a long way since the women’s liberation movement (bra-burning!) in the 70s, disparities in gender equality still continue to persist in the 21st century. Big time bauces such as Kerry Washington, Gloria Steinem, Connie Britton and Oprah Winfrey were a few of Obama’s many girlfriends that showed up for the transformative, first-time summit. Here are some of the inspirational truth bombs and wisdom pearls that we scooped from the conversation:
On rape culture:
“While I was powerless against my rapist, I am not powerless to end rape culture.” Meghan Yap, #itsonus Champion of Change at #StateOfWomen
— Sheila Katz (@SheilaKatz1) June 14, 2016
“No girl, no young women, should ever have to make a choice between controlling her body and controlling her destiny.” #StateOfWomen
— Essence Magazine (@essencemag) June 14, 2016
“When someone comes to you, you have the responsibility to believe her & join her healing journey” Joe Biden on sexual assault #StateOfWomen
— Tashira, esq. (@politicsandfshn) June 14, 2016
Changing laws is 1 step to address violence against women but we have to change culture, a much longer & harder process @VP #StateofWomen
— Rahama Wright (@rahamatuwright) June 14, 2016
“Coercing a women’s reproductive decisions is violence” Joanne Smith, Director Young Women’s Initiative of NYC #StateOfWomen #USOW
— Voto Latino (@votolatino) June 14, 2016
On gun control:
“Domestic violence survivors must inform national gun policies” #StateofWomen
— MySisters MyFriends (@MySisMyFriends) June 14, 2016
Let’s strategically interrupt the status quo to address gender-based violence as a social justice and racial justice issue #StateOfWomen
— Laura Palumbo (@LauraPalumb0) June 14, 2016
On self-value and self-worth:
“Our first job in life as women is to get to know ourselves.” – @FLOTUS @MichelleObama #StateOfWomen
— Prasanna Ranganathan (@PRanganathan) June 14, 2016
“We need to change the criticisms regularly put on women of color, scrutinizing their looks, the way they speak,” @POTUS #StateOfWomen
— theGrio.com (@theGrio) June 14, 2016
“It’s all about giving women the tools they need to walk away, empower themselves.” @kerrywashington #StateOfWomen pic.twitter.com/Fl8pJjrX5R
— Girl Up (@GirlUp) June 14, 2016
“We will not yield to the fragility of masculinity.” Preach. That. #StateOfWomen
— Tee The Boss (@powhataner) June 14, 2016
“If you don’t take control of yourself& your time others will gobble it up” @MichelleObama & @Oprah #StateOfWomen pic.twitter.com/6B5iAy3luJ
— Syd Held (@Syd_held) June 14, 2016
On men supporting women:
“What can men do?” – @Oprah
“Be better.” – @FLOTUS #StateOfWomen
— Women&PublicPolicy (@wapppHKS) June 14, 2016
“Let me be clear, this is what a feminist looks like.” – @POTUS @BarackObama #StateOfWomen pic.twitter.com/0nuXW6eGWy
— Sons & Brothers (@sonsandbros) June 14, 2016
I’m in. #ItsOnUs https://t.co/o0qZT1pBys
— Michael A.C. (@ThisIsMichaelAC) June 14, 2016
On girl power:
When women succeed we all succeed ! @NancyPelosi#StateOfWomenpic.twitter.com/XhfJ84ecTQ
— Jess Weiner (@JessWeiner) June 14, 2016
“There’s not a single thing – not a single solitary thing that a man can do that a woman cannot do as well.” –@VP #StateOfWomen
— The Girls’ Lounge (@TheGirlsLounge) June 14, 2016
“Our country is not just about the Benjamins,” says @POTUS at #StateofWomen. “It’s about the Tubmans, too” pic.twitter.com/vyjYgECZ9z
— ELLE Magazine (US) (@ELLEmagazine) June 14, 2016
“It is our duty to fight for our freedom. It is our duty to win.” @ChernoBiko calls upon Assata Shakur. No option but to DO! #StateOfWomen
— Erin Schrode (@ErinSchrode) June 14, 2016
“When women succeed, America succeeds,” Thomas Perez . #stateofwomen @USWomen2016 @WhiteHouse
— Kaylin Trychon (@KaylinTrychon) June 14, 2016
On poverty:
“Women have, women are, and women will change the world for a #Planet5050“- Lakshmi Puri #StateOfWomen pic.twitter.com/pod00eBraX
— UN Women (@UN_Women) June 14, 2016
“Keeping girls in school is a key issue in breaking the cycle of poverty.” —@carolynsave #StateOfWomen #MAKERStateOfWomen
— MAKERS (@MAKERSwomen) June 14, 2016
“If we free women- we free men, we free humanity”. — @VP #StateOfWomen
— Educate & Empower (@BlackGirlsInGov) June 14, 2016
On becoming a businesswoman:
“My suggestion to entrepreneurs: Keep dreaming big.” #StateOfWomen pic.twitter.com/a2kJWmmsRo
— Girl Up (@GirlUp) June 14, 2016
“Only a kid would think u can change the world w/ a lemonade stand.” Mikaila “Bee-lieve in the impossible!” Introducing @POTUS #StateofWomen
— MomsRising (@MomsRising) June 14, 2016
On social action:
“We transform bystanders into advocates…it’s how we change the culture.” – @VP #StateofWomen #ItsOnUs
— Vivian (@vivnunez) June 14, 2016
“A right isn’t worth much if you can’t access it.” – @CecileRichards #truth #StateOfWomen @PPFA @PPact pic.twitter.com/5QRnvUeEHx
— Global Citizen (@GlblCtzn) June 14, 2016
.@JoeBiden quoting MLK says we must call out the appalling silence of the bystanders. #StateOfWomen #ItsOnUs
— Renee Bracey Sherman (@RBraceySherman) June 14, 2016
“If your leadership doesn’t include women of color & protects rights of trans & WOC you aren’t doing women’s work” @ChernoBiko #StateOfWomen
— Voto Latino (@votolatino) June 14, 2016
Women’s engagement in politics is transformative, which causes backlash. @SandraPepera #StateOfWomen
— GU Women & Peace (@giwps) June 14, 2016
And on your haters:
@michelleobama “I like me. I’ve liked me for a very long time” #StateOfWomen pic.twitter.com/H502cjWUzj
— Denise Dunning, PhD (@DeniseRDunning) June 14, 2016
“Surround yourself with people that hold you up.” -Michelle Obama #StateOfWomen
— alanah. (@alanahjo) June 14, 2016
@FLOTUS: It’s easy to brush off the haters when you know who you are and what you stand for #StateOfWomen
— Amna Farooqi (@afarooqi99) June 14, 2016
“The best revenge is success and good work. You don’t have to pay attn to the haters” – @FLOTUS #StateOfWomen
— Jovian Zayne (@jovianzayne) June 14, 2016
