The message of women’s rights has taken a different meaning to young women of the new generation.

Rather than push power by force, empowerment through gender equality has become the key to growth for ULM students like Hilary Solet, Raya Boyte and Olivia Sage.

On April 16, the three women’s equality supporters gathered in the quad for their “Don’t Tread On Me” protest. The name comes from the idea that women cannot be stepped on.

Posting colorful signs on the ground and on benches, the event wasn’t one to be ignored.

As they gathered supporters, many roamed campus with signs, getting signatures from all genders and races in support of women’s rights.

Sage, Boyte and Solet offered information about women’s rights through history, but also gave facts about rape culture.

Going along with the message of equality, Sage included information on male rape.

“Many people don’t know that male rape wasn’t considered illegal until 2011. It’s just as real for men as it for women and that deserves to be recognized,” Sage said.

Sage promotes women’s rights as an issue for everyone to support, including men.

She believes women’s rights aren’t just about women, but equality for both sexes.

“I assume everyone has a mom, a sister, a female in their life or even met a woman,” said Sage, “If you ignore the rights of women, you’re ignoring your own rights. You’re saying ‘I don’t care about women, so I don’t really care about myself or the people I love.’”

A discussion Boyte and Solet, both junior political science majors, had with some fellow classmates in their ethics class inspired “Don’t Tread On Me”.

“While learning about the evil of discrimination, we heard students talk about how discrimination against women’s rights no longer exist, and how we should be happy with what we have and just move on,” said Solet. “Her words were ‘let’s not kick the pile of dirt since it’s smaller.’”

Solet and Boyte were moved by the remarks. They decided to spread their message that the struggle for women’s equality is still alive and that women should not settle for any less than what they deserve.

“We will not be satisfied with mediocrity, and that goes for all forms of discrimination,” said Solet, “Our Constitution says all men are created equal and we want to hold everyone, including our bosses, coworkers and teachers, to that standard.”