The Suffragettes: Outside Media Event
One topic that we have discussed in class quite a few times is that of using social media as a platform for change. In the wake of incidents involving topics like race, gender, and sexual orientation, social media has often become the way that we propose change and rally support. However, this was not always the case, as new media is dubbed “new” for a reason. For my second media event I went to see the new Suffragette statues at Centennial Park in Nashville Tennessee. This beautiful statue depicts four women, fighting for change in the best way they knew how. I loved the statue because I think it pays homage to a group of people we normally wouldn’t think about. Often, it becomes easy to forget that the women’s vote was something we had to fight for. In my opinion, it’s essential to remember figures like this, so we can remember as a community why movements like feminism are important. After I viewed the statue at Centennial park I did some research on my own, and came across this Tennessean article.
It was shocking to me to learn that Tennessee was the last state to ratify the 19th amendment, and made me so grateful to these women, for standing up for their beliefs. In the age of new media it can seem easy to join a movement, by sharing a post, or putting a hash tag in your bio, but the suffragettes statue shows it wasn’t always so simple. This statue should serve as an inspiration to Nashvillians and tourists that we can move forward and that we must work together to do so.
