I am still at an age where I believe the year 2017 could indeed be the watershed year as far as women and their rights are concerned. My older friends are cautious, they have seen the tide ebb and flow. Going forward, only time will tell what concrete changes, if any, will come about. But difficult conversations along gender lines have begun and men are nervous.

I can’t imagine any woman unaffected by the stories of sexual harassment that came out last year. I also don’t understand why women voted for Donald Trump despite his disrespect for our kind. It is in the light of what has transpired on the socio-political stage – here in the United States – over the past couple of years that I marched, in solidarity with hundreds of folks, for women’s rights this weekend in Santa Ana, a city in southern California.

The protest was peaceful, the frustration palpable though I did not sense anger. Outrage and humour walked together side by side. From what I saw, I am sharing a handful of pictures – hopefully they will give the reader a sense of both the intention and the sentiment behind this year’s women’s march. In all likelihood it will be back next year.

A large number of women turned out in pink pussyhats – a project that was initiated in response to Trump’s “grab them by the pussy” remark. The pink hats symbolised women taking their vaginas back. Their placards and messages ranged from the political to humourous, to endearing.