Thanks for reading the fourteenth edition of the 162 Report, a bi-monthly tip sheet from SKDKnickerbocker’s new Women’s Leadership & Advocacy Practice. Know someone who would enjoy the 162 Report? Anyone can subscribe by emailing us at info@skdknick.com.
WOMEN IN POLITICS
Fall to Rise
Although Hillary Clinton’s overall margin over Trump among women voters was smaller than expected, she won the vote of young women by 32 percent. Many of these voters were counting on Clinton to propel the women’s rights movement forward with a historic – and ceiling-shattering – win. Instead, many young women felt that the country took a giant leap backwards on Election Day.
There’s a silver lining in Clinton’s loss: more young women are now planning to take the leap and run for office themselves. The Washington Post posits that Clinton’s loss could be an even greater mobilizing force for women than her victory would have been. An uptick in donations to Planned Parenthood and EMILY’s List in the wake of the election show that women are doing their part to fight back.
While Clinton’s defeat has inspired many young women to seek public office, it has also underscored the challenges these ambitious women will face. The challenges, however, have steeled their resolve to change the system.
Read more here.
WOMEN IN ADVOCACY
New Sheriff in Town
Six years ago, community organizer and co-founder of the Latinx activist organization Mijente, Marisa Franco, returned to her native Arizona to work with immigrant communities to unseat Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Arpaio was one of the masterminds of SB 1070, an anti-immigrant law that legalized racial profiling in Arizona in 2010. Even before SB 1070, Arpaio was notorious in immigrant communities for his aggressive policing tactics, including bringing military tanks into neighborhoods and conducting late night raids of their homes.
Franco grew up in a small town in Arizona called Guadalupe where Arpaio frequently tested his anti-immigrant tactics. From a young age, she noticed the injustices occurring all around her. Seeing other women struggle to succeed in Guadalupe, she pushed herself to go to college and became involved in activism on campus.
Upon her return to Arizona, Franco recognized that SB 1070 was the final straw for many immigrants in her community. She channeled growing resentment and frustration to help galvanize groups of undocumented immigrants to “come out,” disclosing their immigrant status to show they were unafraid, and to engage in direct action and civil disobedience. After six years of relentless efforts, Franco and community activists successfully unseated Sheriff Arpaio after 20 years in office in 2016.
Read more here.
WOMEN IN SPORTS
Making Waves
While most of us were fighting a turkey hangover, 12 female surfers were riding 30-foot waves in the World Surf League’s big-wave surfing competition. Friday’s event marked the first time women were allowed to compete in a big-wave surfing competition – something female surfers have long been pushing for. Opponents had argued that the conditions were too dangerous for women, but the female surfers won out in the end. A competitor said the day represented “a big step forward for women in the sport.”
One of the country’s largest surf competitions, the Titans of Mavericks in California, will also include women for the first time this season after state regulators threatened to withhold a permit for the contest if organizers didn’t allow women to join.
The symbolism of their participation in the wake of Hillary Clinton’s defeat was not lost on the surfers. Bianca Valenti told The Associated Press, “It’s the least we can do to speak to the election the other day. I watched Hillary’s concession speech and what she was saying – how important it was for women to really stand up now more than ever to break the glass ceiling- and that really resonated a lot.”
Read more here.
BONUS
United Day of Women
The United State of Women has declared this Saturday, December 3rd, the United Day of Women, a nationwide day of action for women to stand together and fight for the issues important to them. Women across the country will hold house parties on Saturday night to strategize how to collectively protect women’s rights and to learn how to organize at the grass roots level.
To learn more and get the materials you’ll need to host an event, click here.
WHAT ELSE WE’RE READING
- Variety reports that Reese Witherspoon is launching a digital media company, Hello Sunshine, devoted to female-driven content.
- NPR warns that women may be forced to pay more for health care under the Trump administration.
- The New York Times compiles stories of women around the country who have faced barriers because of their gender.
- Serena Williams pens an open letter for PORTER Magazine’s Incredible Women of 2016 issue encouraging women to “continue to dream big.”
- Tracey Massey, president of Mars Chocolate North America, tells us how her background in STEM propelled her to the top of her field in Fortune.