7 speeches at Golden Globes 2018 that tell us how women can empower each other

This year's Golden Globes saw a strong women's empowerment theme run through the awards night, which rightfully was all about women.

Sunday night saw women of all colour dominate the award show; they wore black in support of the initiative Time's Up, aimed at supporting women who are bringing forward sexual harassment complaints.

Now, more than ever, when the #MeToo campaign has given hope and raised awareness about sexual abuse, women at the Golden Globes championed each other; they gave shout-outs to fellow women in the crowd, those watching the award show and many others around the world looking for a voice.

They all echoed the same sentiments: the tide has (finally) turned around.

Here are some of our favourites from the Golden Globes:

1. Acknowledging women who made strides and voiced out against abuse, Oprah Winfrey

You know that when Oprah takes the stage there's going to be a whole lot of tears and that's exactly what happened during her acceptance speech.

The philanthropist won the Golden Globes honourary Cecil B DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award, making her the first black woman to receive one, and did she do justice to it on stage! She brought the house down with her words of empowerment.

Here are a few snippets from her powerful speech:

Oprah addressed the sexual harassment allegations in Hollywood following the Harvey Weinstein scandal. "I want tonight to express gratitude to all the women who have endured years of abuse and assault because they, like my mother, had children to feed and bills to pay and dreams to pursue. They're the women whose names we'll never know."

"What I know for sure is that speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we all have. And I'm especially proud and inspired by all the women who have felt strong enough and empowered enough to speak up and share their personal stories,"

"For too long, women have not been heard or believed if they dare speak the truth to the power of those men. But their time is up. Their time is up!"

"I want all the girls watching here, now, to know that a new day is on the horizon! And when that new day finally dawns, it will be because of a lot of magnificent women, many of whom are right here in this room tonight, and some pretty phenomenal men, 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."

Of course, every statement of hers had the women in the room break into applause and give Oprah a standing ovation.

2. Highlighting more stories on abuse, Nicole Kidman

Kidman bagged Best actress in a Limited Series for her role in Big Little Lies and had the audience cheering at, "Wow, the power of women."

“This character that I played represents something that is the center of our conversation right now: abuse. I do believe and I hope that we can elicit change through the stories we tell and the way we tell them.”

3. Accountability for people's actions, Rachel Brosnahan

The The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel star won the award for best actress in a TV Comedy and focused her acceptance speech on making more stories on women so that they can be heard and shown to the world.

"This is a story about a bold and brilliant and complicated woman and I am endlessly proud to be a part of it but there are so many women's stories out there that still need and deserve to be told. As we enter this new year, please, let's continue to hold each other accountable and invest in and make and champion these stories."

4. Recognising the persistent efforts of women in the past, Elizabeh Moss

As she accepted her award for Best Actress in a TV Drama for her role in The Handmaid's Tale, Moss fittingly quoted Margaret Atwood, whose novel has now been made into Moss's show, and thanked her for her efforts.

"Margaret Atwood, this is for you, and all of the women who came before you and after you who were brave enough to speak out against intolerance and injustice and to fight for equality and freedom in this world," she said.

"We no longer live in the blank white spaces at the edge of print. We no longer live in the gaps between the stories. We are the story in print and we are writing the story ourselves."

5. Nobody is alone, Reese Witherspoon

As Big Little Lies bagged the award for Best TV Movie or Limited Series, Reese Witherspoon thanked the women who spoke up about the harassment they faced and basically told the ones who have been silenced that they are not alone in this battle.

"I want to thank everyone who broke their silence this year and spoke up about abuse and harassment, you are so brave. And hopefully more shows like this will be made so people out there who are feeling silenced by harassment, discrimination abuse. Time is Up, we see you, we hear you, and we will tell your stories."

6. Women being credited for their hard work, Frances McDormand

The world needs more fierce women like Frances McDormand. The actor bagged the award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and spoke a few honest words to the audience, especially the men present in the room.

"It was really great to be in this room tonight and to be a part of the tectonic shift in our industry's power structure.Trust me, the women in this room tonight are not here for the food. We are here for the work," she said as she walked off the stage with her Golden Globe.

7. Lending support to survivors, Laura Dern

The Big Little Lies actor won Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series and did not hold back when pressing people to stand by the truth and teach children to speak out in the face of abuse or harassment.

"Many of us were taught not to tattle. It was a culture of silencing and that was normalised. I urge all of us to not only support survivors and bystanders who are brave enough to tell their truth but, to promote restorative justice, may we also please protect and employ them.

"May we teach our children that speaking out without the fear of retribution is our culture's new north star."

Her speech got her love from co-star Nicole Kidman.