It's been a huge year for magazine covers. From Caitlyn Jenner to The Baltimore Riots, 2015 has already had more than its fair share of memorable images. However, it's hard to imagine any publication topping New York Magazine's latest issue.
The powerful cover image unites 35 of the women who are accusing comedian and entertainer Bill Cosby of sexual assault. The women appear seated in similar poses while a single, empty chair is pictured, symbolizing the countless others who have chosen to remain silent. 'Cosby: The Women. An Unwelcome Sisterhood' reads the title.
The picture and accompanying article have taken the internet by storm. As of this writing, New York Magazine's official website is inaccessible due to the immense traffic the piece is currently receiving. Social media has also been galvanized by the photo, with many hailing the cover as a landmark moment.
The women on the cover are a diverse group. Some are still in their 20's while the oldest accuser comes in at 80 years of age. Some come from humble backgrounds while others, like supermodels Janice Dickinson and Beverly Johnson, are huge public figures that have been in the spotlight for years.
"The group of women Cosby allegedly assaulted functions almost as a longitudinal study," said the Magazine, "both for how an individual woman, on her own, deals with such trauma over the decades and for how the culture at large has grappled with rape over the same time period."
The cover is also a shocking reminder of the institutional and societal problems that allowed a man like Cosby to operate for so long:
In the 60s, when the first alleged assault by Cosby occurred, rape was considered to be something violent committed by a stranger... But among younger women, and particularly online, there is a strong sense now that speaking up is the only thing to do, that a woman claiming her own victimhood is more powerful than any other weapon in the fight against rape." Said the magazine.
