'Time' Magazine Names Abuse 'Silence Breakers' as Person of the Year

 

This is What’s Trending Today...

Time Magazine has named the “Silence Breakers” -- those who have publicly shared their stories of sexual abuse -- as its 2017 Person of the Year.

Since early October, numerous women have spoken out about sexual wrongdoing by powerful men in the fields of entertainment, news media, politics, business and sports.

Time praised those who have given “voice to open secrets, for moving whisper networks onto social media, for pushing us all to stop accepting the unacceptable.”

The magazine’s cover features Ashley Judd, Taylor Swift, Susan Fowler and others who say they have been sexually harassed³.

The magazine made the announcement Wednesday morning in New York City on NBC’s “Today” show. Last week, the very same show’s longtime co-host Matt Lauer, was dismissed from his job. NBC said it acted after receiving a report that Lauer had sexually abused a coworker.

Women who spoke¹ out against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein and others helped form the #MeToo movement. Millions of victims of harassment⁴ and other sex abuse told their stories on social media sites.

The messages on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook began after actress and activist⁵ Alyssa Milano followed a suggestion from a friend on Facebook. She tweeted: “If you’ve been sexually harassed or assaulted write ‘me too’ as a reply to this tweet.”

The hashtag was tweeted nearly a million times in the following 48 hours.

Activist Tarana Burke created the #MeToo hashtag 10 years ago to spread information and understanding about sexual violence.

Milano and Burke appeared together Wednesday on the “Today” show. Burke said, “This is just the start. I’ve been saying from the beginning it’s not just a moment, it’s a movement.

“Now the work really begins.”

German Chancellor⁶ Angela Merkel, Time’s 2015 Person of the Year, commented on the magazine's decision through a spokesman. She said this year’s winners should be thanked for “having the courage to break the silence on sexual assaults and for the worldwide discussion that they have launched.”

Time says U.S. President Donald Trump⁷ and Chinese President Xi Jinping were the second and third choices for its Person of the Year.

Many women have accused Trump, himself, of sexual harassment and assault. He has denied any wrongdoing.

Trump, the magazine’s 2016 Person of the Year, wrote on Twitter recently that Time told him he would “probably” be named again this year if he agreed to an interview and photo shoot. Trump said he refused.

Time has disputed Trump’s claims.

And that’s What’s Trending Today.

I’m Ashley Thompson.

Words in This Story

entertainment - n. the action of providing or being provided with amusement or enjoyment⁸.

voice - n. a wish, opinion, etc., that you express openly or publicly

whisper network - phrase. an unofficial information channel that women use to secretly warn each other about possibly dangerous men

feature - v. to have or include (someone or something) as an important part

harass² - v. to bother (someone) in a constant or repeated way

assault - n. a violent physical attack

1 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

2 harass   

vt.使烦恼，折磨，骚扰

参考例句：

• Our mission is to harass the landing of the main Japaness expeditionary force.我们的任务是骚乱日本远征军主力的登陆。
• They received the order to harass the enemy's rear.他们接到骚扰敌人后方的命令。

3 harassed   

adj. 疲倦的，厌烦的 动词harass的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He has complained of being harassed by the police. 他投诉受到警方侵扰。
• harassed mothers with their children 带着孩子的疲惫不堪的母亲们

4 harassment   

n.骚扰，扰乱，烦恼，烦乱

参考例句：

• She often got telephone harassment at night these days.这些天她经常在夜晚受到电话骚扰。
• The company prohibits any form of harassment.公司禁止任何形式的骚扰行为。

5 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

6 chancellor   

n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长

参考例句：

• They submitted their reports to the Chancellor yesterday.他们昨天向财政大臣递交了报告。
• He was regarded as the most successful Chancellor of modern times.他被认为是现代最成功的财政大臣。

7 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

8 enjoyment   

n.乐趣；享有；享用

参考例句：

• Your company adds to the enjoyment of our visit. 有您的陪同，我们这次访问更加愉快了。
• After each joke the old man cackled his enjoyment.每逢讲完一个笑话，这老人就呵呵笑着表示他的高兴。