Trump takes office again on January 20. For those of us working to advance gender equality and intersecting issues, where do we collectively go from here? What do we need to focus on?
First, we must keep fighting. After all, our foremothers didn't stop fighting when they were tired and worn out, thought they would fail and wanted to give up. We must remember what they were willing to sacrifice for the movement, the fight, and the rights we have now. We can find strength in that.
I do know that NOW and our members won't sit still. We have seen a lot of change since NOW was founded almost 60 years ago, but we still have much work to do. We know that change doesn't happen when you're comfortable. Change happens when you're agitated. Change happens when you can't take it anymore. This is the time for change. This is a time for us to come together, devise a plan, and develop a strategy.
How do we make progress during this time? Are there new strategies we should be adopting in terms of organizing and coalition building?
The election showed that people voted based on their interests in a very siloed way instead of considering everyone. It's time for a wake-up call. We cannot have these siloed movements. We will never get to the place we need to get to if we're working with silos. It must be a multi-strategy, multi-issue approach based on working together, not against each other or at the expense of one another. If your equality comes before my equality, it is inequality. We need to figure out how we will come together, convene, and organize to identify our strategy and a movement that has solidarity.
What is your call to action?
Show up. Don’t give up. Over the next two years, NOW, its members, and partner organizations will take on a nationwide campaign called Disrupt NOW with the national and local objectives to:
The U.S. once again failed to elect our first woman president. What will it take to get a woman president and more women into political leadership?
What it will take to get a woman president and more women into political leadership is a collective commitment to show up. It's not about political affiliation. The election came down to deep-rooted racism, sexism, and xenophobia. We must be honest about that and figure out ways to combat systemic oppression through unified, realistic action.
What gives you hope? For those feeling disheartened by this setback and/or overwhelmed by the work ahead, what words of encouragement would you offer?
Yes, we are tired and disheartened, but we can't just stop showing up. We stand on the shoulders of great activists and that gives me hope. Lucretia Mott didn’t stop marching. Ida B. Wells didn't stop writing. And Congressman John Lewis didn't stop making good trouble. And, neither will we.
We must continue to do the work. We must show up, not give up. It's more important than ever for us to protect, support, and hear each other. And if we can take the time to get to know each other, hear our stories, hear what we're going through, and hear what we need, we will be better off. I remind myself of all the work done to get us this far, and we must keep marching forward.
Portions of this interview appeared at ForbesWomen and Women’s Media Center.