How the #MeToo movement gave one woman the confidence to strip down to a bikini with swagger
Lisa Schwartz started her career in public relations back in 2007, and since then, she has come a long way. When she was a newbie in the industry of public relations, she often thought twice before she uploaded any picture on her social media. Instead of putting pictures where she thought she looked sexy or beautiful, she would often upload images of landscapes or places she traveled. Lisa was worried about what her colleagues or her clients would think of her. “You don’t want to come across as too sexy or showing too much skin,” she told the New York Post. “There’s a perception that if you [post sexy photos,] you’re not as professional and your priorities might be a little off," she continued.
However, things changed last month. Lisa, who works with Diamond Public Relations in Miami, started hitting the gym after her breakup and did not shy away from sharing her body transformation with her followers. Now, she is not afraid to pose pictures that show her doing yoga at the beach while wearing a two-piece bikini or the ones that show her living her life while she sips a glass of champagne. Lisa credits the #metoo movement for the new found freedom she has identified her with.
Previously, Lisa focused on the judgments of others, but that is long gone. “Before, as a woman, you fear[ed] that other people are gonna think because I’m showing skin I’m a bimbo or a slut,” she said. “[#MeToo] just shifted everything.” The MeToo movement gave women a chance to breathe freely and not forbid themselves to the rules of the society about how women should be 'modest.'
Thanks to the movement, women now everywhere know that they can live, dress and be the way they want; it is the duty of the men to ensure they behave appropriately. Julia Cavalieri, 29-year-old, marketing manager based in Miami, also shared similar thoughts such as Lisa's. She attributed her confidence to body positivity, the rise of social media and #MeToo movement. “I live in Miami, so half of my life is in swimsuits,” she said. “I’m confident in my body.”
She added that other women in the industry are doing similar things. “Within my network, they’re sharing similar things, and so they’ve been supportive, and we comment on each other’s photos,” she said. “We have a lot of friendly banter.” Meanwhile, Madelaine O’Connell, a 28-year-old investment banker and also an instructor at streaming workout service Obé said that when she first started her career in 2015, she made sure she kept her two worlds aside in order to make sure that she is taking seriously in the job she does.
“I wanted to rise in the ranks of finance, and so I wanted to keep my two worlds separate,” she said. But since last year, Madelaine has also understood that there is no need to be ashamed of who you are and definitely no need to hide it from the world. “So much of my [fitness] job is showing my body . . . I worked hard to get to this point. I don’t think it should affect my [day job],” she said. “[#MeToo] plays a part of women’s empowerment both inside and outside the workplace.”
However, there are a few people who think a woman should think twice before uploading pictures. “It’s good to be understanding of your career goals, and where they fall in your online presence,” said Patrick Ambron, the founder of BrandYourself.com, a company which focuses on helping people and company manage their online reputation. The fact of the matter is your online presence is scrutinized more than ever.”