After the election of the man considered by millions to be a sexual predator and a misogynist, shockwaves swept across the county. Women and minority groups were immediately fearful of what the new administration would do to deny them their civil and human rights.
Women began to ask each other, “what do we do?” Within a few days, the idea of a women’s march and rally was making its way around social media. Based loosely on large gatherings of politically active women in the past, the March arose organically. It represented a groundswell of emotional responses to the election of Donald Trump.
The Women’s March on Washington took shape rapidly, drawing women and supporters of women’s rights from every state and even Canada. To date, almost a half a million people have signed up to attend the event, which will take place on the day after the Inauguration.
Many people on the right saw the decision to rally as a protest against Trump’s Presidency. There were memes and posts telling progressives to “get over it” and to “stop whining.” The rally was seen as a refusal to accept the horrifying reality that Donald Trump is about to become our President.
Some conservative news sites have referred to the march as a “pro abortion rally.” Others have referred to the rally as an anti-Trump protest.
The organizers call it a march in support of women’s rights. Their motto is “Women’s rights are human rights.”
I plan to attend the rally. I have my own reasons for going. But I wondered what it is that is motiving so many other women to travel to Washington in the frigid temperatures. I wanted to know what was pushing so many different women to converge in one place.
I put out a call on Facebook and Twitter, and have received many replies from women I know and women I have never met. The women who answered me range in age from 17 to 70, and come from around the country.
Here are a few of the statements I’ve gotten in response to my query:
“I am hoping that by doing something active, I will feel less helpless about what is happening.”
“I am going to show unity and to make it clear that the incoming administration was not elected by a majority. He does not have a mandate and he cannot stifle our voices.”
“I fear we are going backward in terms of equal rights as a result of this election. We have never achieved equal pay, and have constantly had to fight for the right to control our bodies. This President and Vice President are going to undermine and destroy all of the gains we have made. I want to join together with all of the other women in force to show we won’t go down without a fight.”
Mothers wrote to me about wanting to protect their daughters. One said that she raised her daughters to “know they could do anything they set their heart and minds to… no restrictions… and now they are out doing those amazing things… I worry how far back this will set woman’s rights.”
Another wrote that she wants her to daughter to know that she is not alone in her anger, and that thousands of other women will stand with her to defend her rights.
Women wrote to me about wanting to honor their mothers, both literal and figurative. They want to protect the progress that has come to women so slowly and painfully. One woman wrote that she was thinking of her grandmother, who told her:
“Never take for granted the work of those who came before you.”
One young transgender woman is coming with us to show that she is not afraid. A middle aged grandmother gave the same reason.
One theme that came up over and over was the desire for unity and a feeling of strength. Women are going to Washington to be with other strong women. They are marching for themselves. They want to feel empowered and comforted in a scary time.
Another idea that was repeated was the need to have a voice. A feeling of helplessness has grown in many women since the election. The march will be an opportunity to take action, to express that women are still here, still powerful, and still willing to fight for their rights.
Quite a few of the women talked about respecting the democratic process and the office of the Presidency. They specifically used words like “peaceful”, “nonviolent,” and “non-confrontational.”
At the same time, though, nearly everyone said that they are determined to show Trump and his people that women are a powerful, vocal and unified force. They want to remind him that women will not give up easily.
Learn about the women behind the march below. And please go to the website, Women’s March on Washington, to find how you can join or support the cause.
Featured image via Wikimedia Commons and is in the public domain.
