Alyssa Milano Hopes Her 3-Year-Old Daughter Will Never Have to Say #MeToo – Via Elle

A lot of people replied. Now, women all over the world are speaking up and standing up —not just to the individuals who perpetrate this abuse, but also to the culture that has enabled it for so long. (My tweet helped amplify the work of the Me Too movement, which supports survivors of sexual violence). We are collectively shattering the stigma around this issue and are having much-needed conversations on how we can end the systemic cycle of discrimination against women.

As a result, we are seeing positive, sweeping changes: the media is increasingly covering these issues, men in power are being held accountable for their actions, and legislation to prevent and respond to sexual harassment in Congress has even been introduced.

In a way, all of this is because of you, because you gave mama the strength to speak out. Sexual assault and harassment can be very difficult to talk about, which is why many women—like your mommy—choose not to share such personal, traumatizing stories.

COURTESY ALYSSA MILANO

As your mommy, it is my job to lead by example, to teach you to recognize your own power and how to be brave. You make it easy; you are already so fierce! There’s a reason your big brother likes to say, “Bella is beautiful like Belle, but strong like the Beast.” We all see your strength and I promise to do whatever it takes to help you continue cultivating it.

I want you to grow up from the strong little girl you are today into an even stronger woman who knows her worth. I want you to be valued for your brain, your beautiful big heart, your talents, and your sweet, sweet soul—not for your body. And I never want you to be silenced or suppressed.

All too often, as girls become women, things like sexism, violence, discrimination in education and the workforce (to name a few), work against us. They try to shatter our confidence and worth, but I promise I’ll do everything in my power to protect you from such negative forces. There’s no parenting handbook that explains exactly how to do this, but I’ll do my best. I will teach you to advocate for your needs, to lift other women up, and most importantly, to believe in and respect yourself.

This is why I’m working so hard to make sure silence is not the norm for your generation. My biggest hope is that you never have to say “me too.” But, God forbid you do, I want you to know that you will be heard and believed, and that you should speak your truth. And know that mama is always here for you.

I asked you once what you would do if someone tried to hurt you and you said, “I would scream ‘no’ really loud, run away really fast and then put on my cape!” That’s right, ladybug. You are a super hero, and I don’t ever want you to forget it.

I love you, I love you, I love you.