A Year Later, the Women's March Is More Powerful—and Pertinent—Than Ever
Exactly 365 days after Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States, citizens across the world are gathering, signs in hand, to march once again in protest. Since last year’s rallies—led by the historic Women’s March on Washington—it’s safe to say there’s a hell of a lot more to mobilize for in 2018, including the rise of the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements, the fate of DACA, and devastating comments made by the leader of the free world including the one about Haiti, El Salvador, and African nations being “shitholes.”
In New York, jewelry designer Nicole Novick tells Glamour that marching this year felt particularly pressing—which is why she and her husband brought their six-year-old twin sons. “I wanted my boys to see what people can do with their hearts and voices—what it looks like to be a force of change,” she says, adding that one of her sons made a sign—without her help!— that says “Be kind to every girl,” and the other chose “Word to your mother.” “As a woman and a [mom], it’s my duty to raise boys that grow up to be good men.”
Those in Park City, Utah, for the annual Sundance film festival, also took time out to march at a rally with speakers that included Jane Fonda. New York magazine events director Tara Reilly is there for work and says the strength-among- women energy is palpable. “A spark has definitely been lit and women are speaking up,” she says. “I’m inspired by strong voices in the entertainment industry, including legends like Jane, coming together to demand change.” She added that she was particularly inspired by something Fonda said: “When we are equal, we are not abused.”
I’m glad more people are getting an understanding of how deep and pervasive the white male patriarchy is in our society, government and culture
Robyn Duda, who just left a large publicly-traded company to start her own design firm, says she’s marching in Philadelphia for “all the women who get the job done well and continue to be paid less than their male counterparts,” adding that “diversity within large company executive teams continues to be embarrassing.”
Her sign, appropriately, reads “Take your 20 cents and invest it in manners.” “We all know women still make 80 cents to the dollar a man makes,” she says. “I can’t wait to see the day where the boardroom and employee pay structure is truly a reflection of a person’s work and not gender or age.”
Other marchers were as hopeful, certainly, but also outraged—and admit their feelings provided impetus to get out and protest.
“It’s been a really frustrating and saddening year,” said New York-based event planner and marcher Allyson Brassard, while non-profit animal shelter director, Brittany Feldman, says she’s ready to march for “the simple fact we have a racist running our country.” Minneapolis-based community outreach director Shaina Smith agrees. “I’m glad more people are getting an understanding of how deep and pervasive the white male patriarchy is in our society, government and culture,” she says “For those of us who were already aware, it’s been an exhausting year.”
There’s a second feminist revolution coming in this country and the world better get ready for it.”
Lydia Pitcher, a college professor in Albany, New York, has a message for the current administration: wake up and pay attention, particularly to people of color. “When you make things better for minority women, you make things better for everyone,” she says. “Folks who are able should consider investing in black-led organizing for political and economic change rather than continuing to fund mainstream efforts which can unintentionally undermine efforts to fight white supremacy and the patriarchy.” She cites Higher Heights, an organization committed to harnessing the power of black women from the voting booth to political leadership, as a good place to start.
In New York, editor Noah Silverstein echoed Pritcher’s idea of marginalized communities needing more recognition. “There hasn’t been any relief for anyone whose human rights are not guaranteed in the eyes of the administration: women, immigrants, the LGBTQIA community, and more,” he said. “As an out gay man, I feel it’s my responsibility to show up and be vocal.”
As far as the future is concerned, those on the ground remain optimistic in spite of the challenges that President Trump and his supporters are pretending don’t exist, but acknowledge that a strength-in-numbers mentality is key to propel change.
“Being part of the women’s march again makes me feel like I’m not alone in my anger and fear about what this administration is doing,” Melissa Berger, who works in philanthropy in New York, says. “I feel that women are the future like never before. We will lead on the issues of women’s rights, immigration rights, black lives matter, sexual assault and harassment. There’s a second feminist revolution coming in this country and the world better get ready for it.”
Abigail McCoy contributed to this report