Women Working Hard for Democracy

When it comes to preventing democratic backsliding and authoritarianism in America, one recurring topic both online and in real life is the need to find a leader to rally broad, majority support on the left to get the job done. More specifically, who can command the attention of young men to pull them back from the brink of the toxic manosphere and increase their civic engagement? Would a liberal version of Joe Rogan like Brian Tyler Cohen, Erik of Internet Comment Etiquette, or Third Way political commentator Hasan Piker do the trick? Is a handful of charismatic, progressive men enough to rebuild communities torn apart by divisive politics?

But are male influencers/leaders the only solution? At a time when too many men want women to “shut up” and stay out of the public sphere, and some Democrats are trying to sabotage “leftist creators,” the true leaders of anti-authoritarianism efforts are the folks you may least expect: everyday liberal and progressive women.

You’ve probably seen them in your neighborhood, place of employment, community groups, or social settings (and maybe you, our reader, are one of them!) Regardless of where these women are, they’re putting in the work for democracy, such as trying to stop the SAVE Act and prevent a repeal of the 19th amendment.

Building communities with compassion and grit

Despite the efforts of these women, sexist men on both the right and the left consider their brand of political engagement to be “cringe.” They treat them condescendingly by calling them names like “wine moms” and “resistance libs.” The fact is that these women are stepping up for their communities across the country in every way imaginable:

Coolness is almost always framed as manliness in a traditional, normative sense. Trump’s defeated opponents, Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris, are mocked by many, including online progressives, on sexist terms about their appearance and approachability. Similarly, the pink hat–wearing liberal women who have marched consistently against Trump since his rise, the kind of liberal archetype so many online sneer at as overly earnest and ultimately ineffectual, are regularly discarded as “wine moms.”

But this is wrong. Those marches mattered. The political work done by a lot of middle-aged women to register voters, sign political petitions, and organize communities matters. And it’s all been done with the delightfully unvarnished—some might say “cringeworthy”—enthusiasm of people, particularly women, unafraid to show they care.

Why, then, isn’t mainstream media shining spotlights on such women, as well as those like University of Richmond professor Dr. Jenny Pribble, Heather Cox Richardson, and Ruth Ben-Ghiat, among many others? Where are the adulation and platforming for the middle-aged women with academic/journalism expertise and huge audiences who are helping to preserve American democracy? Why aren’t more men listening to them? More men could and should be following the examples of the community work being done by their grandmothers, mothers, aunts, sisters, or wives.

Pro-democracy groups, events, and protests are often organized and led by women, but thanks to sexism and misogyny, mainstream media generally ignores their efforts. And patriarchy propaganda teaches men that women are unfit to lead in any capacity, whether at home, the workplace, in social media, or in government. Liberal women’s civic engagement isn’t viewed as valuable or worthy of amplification, so many people ignore it or are oblivious because the powers that be are keeping them in the dark.

Despite those obstacles, women persist in their painstaking work to preserve our democracy. They’re organizing and attending protests; volunteering for elections; leading county party committees, organizing petition-signing events for political candidates; running non-profits, filling unmet educational needs; helping migrant farmworkers, and much more. They patiently and methodically build coalitions in a disciplined way, brick by brick. In fact, their community building is exactly what Dr. Pribble said was the most effective strategy to survive authoritarianism and bring back democracy.

Note that significant numbers of women doing pro-democracy work right now are menopausal or post-menopausal (if anyone receives the lion’s share of sexist and ageist scorn, it’s post-menopausal women). Many of these women are retired. If they have children, their kids are grown and/or they’re empty nesters. That means they have more time to focus on their own lives, interests, and goals. These factors—more time, more wisdom, and unshakeable confidence—are their superpower.

A scene from The Incredibles film encapsulates their determination perfectly. The character Elastigirl takes issue with the idea that she, a woman, should “settle down” instead of continuing her superhero work: “I’m at the top of my game. I’m right up there with the big dogs! Girls, come on. Leave the saving of the world to the men? I don’t think so.”

Meet some of your local women organizers

All kinds of women are using their skills, talents, and support networks to help democracy, yet their efforts are flying under the radar. It’s not just ordinary sexist men ignoring them; it’s also billionaires who control mainstream media and entertainment, essentially putting a muzzle on the fourth estate to suppress their work. Women’s pro-democracy labor is largely invisible, but we have the power to change that.

Just because mainstream media ignores the patriotic efforts of women who are defending the pillars of democracy doesn’t mean everyone else has to. Neighbors For Change wants you to know about a few women in Henrico County and surrounding areas who are putting in the work to help you and your community thrive. There are too many of them to list here, but this sample will give you an idea:

Chair Polly Dieter and former Chair Alsúin Creighton-Preis of the Henrico Democratic Committee

Rachel Levy – former Chair of Hanover Democrats and currently the Senior Legislative Aide to Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg (D SD16)

Monica Hutchins – Communications Chair and mentor for the Henrico NAACP Youth and College Chapter; Vice-Chair of Planning for Henrico County Public Schools Special Education Advisory Committee; Chair of the Henrico County Democratic Black Caucus for the Henrico County Democratic Committee (via The Forge)

Beth Hedquist – activist with Third Act

Jennifer Corpus – an organizer with Friends of Hanover

Amy Mendelson-Cheeley – former member of the Hanover County Planning Commission and longtime citizen activist in Hanover County

Beth Hoer – a primary founder and organizer of Community Coalition for Common Ground

Jen Tierney – Chair of Historic Triangle Dems

Mary Beth Gibson – the Vice Chair of Campaigns for Historic Triangle Dems

Cindy Gibson (no relation to Mary Beth Gibson) – volunteer for Historic Triangle Democrats

Brittany Rose – campaign liaison and elections and policy expert for Neighbors For Change and elected board representative to the Henricopolis Soil and Water Conservation District.

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