A global army of feminists is rising up.
Over the past month, a steady stream of volunteer support has started to roll in - women of all ages responding to our call to action to join the fight for gender equality. Many more responded to our request to share their hopes, fears, anger, frustrations and simply, what it means to be a woman in a man’s world. I was saddened to hear nearly everyone comment on the challenges they face with persistent sexism and harassment - for some, a lifetime of it. One young woman - who has never dated - proudly told me she was subscribing to the 4B Club.
But on the flip side, there was consensus: virtually every woman is fed up and hungry for change. Everyone fervently embraced the opportunity to be part of the movement to revive feminism and embrace the power we wield as women working together toward our common cause.
What does “feminism” mean? It’s not about being angry (although yes, we are), burning bras, or hating men. Being a feminist is believing and expecting that women have equal rights. Nothing more. Nothing less. So when your husband, boyfriend, sister, friend or kid tells you that they are not a feminist and questions if that’s even a thing anymore - offer up that definition and challenge them to join the fight.
It’s time for feminism to thrive. The beast is awakened. We are feminists. And we’re ready to change the game.
Sally DeSipio
Chair, Global Women’s Caucus
[email protected]
Nolite te bastardes carborundorum
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GWC SURVEY
We’re just getting started. The first thing you can do to help advance our work is to fill out this short survey. It will take you about 15 minutes and will help us better understand this community. We are many women, aged 17-90, living across the globe in different cultures and with different heritages. That’s a colorful kaleidoscope right there.
We invite you to take a moment to tell us more about you, so we can better serve you.
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Thanks so much to everyone who responded to the call to action last month, volunteering your time. It was an exciting beginning on which we must continue to build. The bigger the group, the greater our power, and we need all the power we can get! Specifically, we’re looking for:
Copy Writers - writers trained in marketing to help us turn our strategic ideas into creative content
Graphic Designers/Art Directors: Facility with Canva is preferred.
Video content creators - as above
TikTok content creators or influencers
Social Media managers: specifically for Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky and TikTok. Experience in the platform is important. We would like two per platform.
Event Organizers - on-line: help us brainstorm and produce on-line events
Event Organizers - off-line: we want to create caucuses and local hubs where women and allies can meet in person, build loyalty and trust and create real community. All it takes to start is two people!!
Project Managers: we need several with multiple skills, including being organized, facility with Mac or Microsoft tools. We need a few for the Comms/Marketing team, the Events teams, and the Policy/GOTV teams.
Researchers: strong research skills to help build political strategy. Experience or interest in local politics or policy would be helpful
Liaison with Global Comms: eyeballs on Global Comms Signal and Take Action channels so GWC can coordinate important messaging.
Policy organizers: strategic thinking, voter outreach, personable, critical thinking, data analysis - This will be a team. You don’t have to have ALL of these skills!
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NEW INITIATIVES - we want to hear from you
Unmuted: Voices Without Borders - If you have something to say (and as women, I’m sure you do!), whether it’s an article, a poem, a letter - or something else - and it expresses what you’re feeling as a woman today, please send it to [email protected]. We are going to start a section of our website that is devoted TO YOU. If it’s anger at something, especially if you have an idea of how to change it, tell us. If it’s hopeful or beautiful or joyful - share that. It will be curated - we won’t be able to post everything. But all of it will help mold our messages, event ideas, and general calls to action. Please take a look at the first submissions!
The Cauldron: a monthly global drop in Zoom call to share thoughts and experiences from all over the world. We will attempt to hold these calls on the same day/week each month. It’s been energizing to speak to so many of you as we build our volunteer base, and we want to keep the dialogue and energy flowing to maximize this group’s potential.
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EMEA RETREAT: Brussels, Oct 10-12
Our annual regional retreat has been scheduled! Don’t miss a great opportunity to meet leaders and members from Europe/Middle East/Africa, join in great learning strategic sessions and hear panelists. You can RSVP and learn more here.
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START A CAUCUS
We need caucuses and hubs all over the world in order to engage as many women as possible. Currently we have active chapters in France, UK, Italy and Spain. We are missing chapters in some of the largest countries of American immigrants: Germany, Canada, Mexico, China, Japan and the Netherlands. Spain and Italy need some volunteers to help with organizing and strategy as well. Grab a friend and open a chapter in your town or city or even country!
Check out this 3 minute TED talk on How to Start a Movement.
It’s that easy. Contact us at [email protected].
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THE GWC FACELIFT
We are pleased to announce an updated landing page and website. Please take a look and let us know your thoughts. And while you’re there, don’t forget to request your 2025 ballot - it’s good voting hygiene.
https://www.democratsabroad.org/wc
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NEWS LINKS
Podcast: On with Kara Swisher – What Makes a Man. It SEEMS like a tired subject - but we actually haven’t begun to dig in. The episode explores the loss of male role models in education and care services, and the profound impact of smartphones, social media, and artificial intelligence on male identity, amongst other topics, helping foster understanding across the board.
Substack: Heather Cox Richardson on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s reposting of a video in which Christian nationalist pastors express their opposition to the idea of women voting. Letters From an American
NYT Interview with M. Gessen – The Beautiful Danger of Normal Life During an Autocratic Rise.
A brilliant interview on authoritarianism with someone who experienced it firsthand in Putin’s Russia. No one does it better. A gift article.
Youtube: Michelle Obama and brother Craig Robinson’s IMO Live Podcast with Dr. Laurie Santos: How to Break up with your Phone. The group discusses how phones have contributed to the “always on” nature of stress, strategies to harness happiness in the everyday, and how to develop resilience for future challenges.
Book Recommendation: The Feminist Killjoy Handbook
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