But, despite all the pain and stress wrapped into 2017, it was a remarkable year to be a woman.

The year started out strong with the outbreak of the Women’s March on Washington that spread not only throughout the country, but the world. Millions of women and allies filled the streets of the United States advocating for their personal beliefs, but coming in solidarity to push forward an agenda of unity and equality.

Throughout the year, the conversation on sexual assault broke out from the decades of fear and became a recurring headline. Women began to speak out against men in power, whether political, athletic, or Hollywood based fame, confronting the issue and the ones who have caused them harm.

People began talking more about the issue, which sparked the #MeToo campaign – a campaign created to continue the conversation of sexual assault and harassment. The hashtag flooded social media, as women spoke what was being trapped inside them confronting the issue that has long been overlooked while revealing to the world how too many have experienced what they should never have experienced.

All lead to the groundbreaking 2017 TIME Person of the Year that was named to the Silence Breakers, those who spoke out against sexual assault laying out the stories of women who had undergone assault and harassment.

The conversation also took to the Internet, as feminism was one of the top searched words on the Merriam-Webster website making it their word of the year. Between the women’s march, the media, entertainment like the Hulu Original show The Handmaid’s Tale and the film Wonder Woman, people were tuned into pushing for the advancement of womanhood.

2018 has come, and women have already carried over the momentum created in the previous year. The conversation of sexual assault continued, as the very start of the new year a newsletter was released to the world announcing a non-profit organization called TIME’S UP, which aims to bring justice to the sexual assault, harassment, and inequality in the workplace by providing legal aid to uphold accountability.

Oprah said it best, we are “fighting hard to make sure that they become the leaders who take us to the time when nobody ever has to say ‘Me too’ again.”

The TODAY Show also broke headlines, as Hoda Kotb was promoted to sit next to Savannah Guthrie in the anchor desk after the firing of former co-anchor Matt Lauer for inappropriate conduct with members of the shows crew. This revolutionized morning news with the show hosting two female lead anchors.

Women took to the streets across the country once again this past Saturday (Jan. 20), the anniversary of the 45th President’s inauguration. The march stood as a symbol that women are here and have broke the silence that bound them for centuries, while also continue to advocate for the issues most meaningful to them under an umbrella of solidarity.

Honestly, what a time to be a woman in a time where their voices carry weight, being heard, and being fought for by the strong female figures and allies holding public office. With mid-term elections rounding the corner, a record number of women are planning to run for office with hopes of keeping the conversation of equality alive while closing the gender gap in government.

The fight for justice has only amplified over the past year, though I’m not sure anyone can really foresee what the future of the feminist agenda may hold.

Nevertheless, women have shown no matter the wreckage, she persisted and will continue to persist.