It’s unpatriotic. Your side lost; get over it.
On Saturday, January 21, nearly half a million women and men flooded into downtown Washington DC to protest the inauguration of Donald Trump and to stand in solidarity with women’s rights. From the Women’s March on Washington, ‘sister marches’ sprouted across the globe, from Los Angeles and New York City to London, Antarctica, and a fishing village in Nova Scotia, Canada (population: 65).
From our static position at the east end of the National Mall, immobile in the growing crush of people, unable to hear or see the speeches delivered by various public figures from Madonna and Scarlett Johansson to Gloria Steinem and Cecile Richards, my crew and I waited as the start time of the march was pushed later and later.
For hours, we shuffled through the packed crowd, occasionally misplacing members of our group and calling out over the tops of pink ‘pussycat’ hats to try to locate them again. We joined in on chants – “We want a leader, not a creepy tweeter!”- and watched as the drum circle of the First Americans rythmically maneuvered their way through the crowd.
After the march, as I hobbled back to the bus, the Capitol building waning against the indigo sky behind me, my back ached, my feet throbbed, and yet, I felt for the first time in my young life truly energized and accomplished.
With the sharpies and poster-board of millions of Americans, we had sent a personal message to President Trump and his administration. And despite what some conservative news sources and dismayed Trump supporters may believe, that message was far more than a very loud, very hearty “F*ck You!”
The Women’s March and Trump
We were not marching to undo what had already been done. We accept that Trump is president, and we understand that this election gave a voice to many underrepresented Americans. Yet, the negative reactions to Trump’s inauguration, including the Women’s March, cannot be compared to responses to past presidencies because Trump is an exception. In electing him, many voters overlooked the increasingly real threat his administration poses to minorities in many social groups, not only through legislative action reminiscent of the America we read of in history books, but also through the normalization of bigotry. While only a “***tiny slice” of Trump supporters are overtly racist, sexist, and homophobic, many who voted for him with some reservation trivialized the importance of integrity and respect for equality in electing our next leader.
The Women’s March was an incredible reaction against the disturbingly twilight-zone-esque reminders of how long the journey to equal rights continues to be. We were not aggressive, whining liberals, sore that the election didn’t play to our favor, but fueled Americans, challenging our government and letting the world know that no, this is not normal, that no, we will not ‘let it go,’ and that yes, this is just the beginning.
The narrow, lazy claim that the Women’s March was, as a whole, unpatriotic should be easily dismissed by anyone who actually attended one of the estimated 673 demonstrations around the world. Peaceful protests are possibly the most American of all American rights, and not one of the 500,000 marchers on Washington was arrested. Though this is commendable, it is also another reminder of the double standards surrounding race and white privilege, as most of the marchers were white females.
Regardless of personal opinion on the specific political issues represented at the March, such as abortion rights, and regardless of voter decision in the past election, everyone should be proud of the March and the women and men who participated.
The Women’s March and Feminism
While the March hosted a range of representatives such as the EPA, the First Americans Resistance movement, Black Lives Matter, and the African American Policy Forum, the common base of the March was, of course, women’s rights. And in response to this feminist foundation, some critics have labeled the March ‘unnecessary’ in their fervent retaliations on social media. Yet, this idea that sexism isn’t serious is not at all surprising because the combatant of sexism – feminism – continues to drown in sticky, stubborn stigma.
In my sheltered Mountain Lakes bubble and beyond, the negativity surrounding feminism as a whiny overreaction by anti-men complainers has made itself felt by men and women alike. There seems to be a general impression that when women promote female strength and a challenge to the patriarchy, they are concurrently branding all men as oppressors to be overthrown and are pushing women to blindly reject even the slightest accordance with societal norms, regardless of personal belief.
Kellyanne Conway, Counselor to President Trump, has expressed that she views feminism as a movement associated with “anti-male sentiments” that tell “young boys to sit down and shut up.” And she’s not the only one. Many feel that feminism is “telling [women] that our worth is tied to our career and our sex life,” while telling men that “they are worthless.”
As with any social movement, the members within aren’t homogenous in their beliefs. There must be women, though I have yet to meet them, who call themselves feminists, promote anti-male expressions, and impose strict guidelines on how to be a ‘good’ woman.
In truth, however, feminism is the very simple idea that men and women are equal. As Emma Watson, actress and UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, stated: “Feminism is not here to dictate to you. . . All we are here to do is give you a choice.” And it’s not just for women. “Men don’t have the benefits of equality either,” and the fight to gender equality is for them, as well. While statements like Conway’s should be seriously considered and used to better the feminist movement, it would be most beneficial for women in power to use their voice, not to shun feminism, but to challenge both those within who harm the movement and those outside who attack it. Critics may always find fault with feminism, as with any social movement, but running from, rather than building up the movement, can only weaken progress.
Moreover, it is important to note that while feminism is for everyone, the struggles of inequality are not evenly shared. As a (half) white woman of privilege, I will hopefully always enjoy private medical insurance, never having to resort to Planned Parenthood. My voting rights and my right to police protection will likely never be challenged. Compared to the experiences of the women of color and less privilege marching next to me, my experience with sexism and inequality has been, and will be, minimal. As one fellow Marcher wrote, however, “I marched because I can.” I marched for women in other countries who can’t. I marched for women less fortunate than myself, and I marched for my future self, who, once outside sheltered, suburban Mountain Lakes, will have to face sexism on an elevated level. If anything, Trump’s presidency is a reminder that there is still a place for feminism today.
For me, the Women’s March was not only a chance to stand against much of what Trump represents and for women’s rights, but also to clear the name of feminism. The March was a peaceful, supportive swell of heart and energy, and it was an amazing way to embody the truth behind the word ‘feminism.’
***This video contains sensitive material.
Photo Credit to Grace Chuan ’17
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¡Excelente artículo!