Thanks to everyone who joined on Sat Jan 21 for the 7th annual Women of the World March Online event. 
The event aimed to bring together interested in gender equality to discuss how the Dobbs decision is impacting women and problems beyond abortion access.
There was much discussion about how we need to think more broadly about sexual discrimination and gender equality as well as the need for a long term, multifaceted strategy. We discussed how issues were both complex and interconnected and as such required actors engagement from multiple sectors.
Materials from the event may be accessed here.
Please feel free to watch and share the event recording on YouTube.
Please take 5-10 min to share your feedback on the event by filling in this survey.
Some of the issues discussed
- importance of role models and using the right language
- We need to think more broadly and consider the interconnectedness of issues
- We need to focus on education, eg what does abortion really mean?
- The earlier people understand equality, human rights, abortion, etc. develop, the better
- Reproductive rights is a big concern, as part of a broader concern about the state of healthcare. Criminalization of miscarriages, prioritizing policy over health of half of the nation
- We can’t rely on the law alone to protect us and ensure progress, as the other side is not working from a perspective of fairness
- LGBTQIA discrimination is sex discrimination
- The State should not in the business of asking your gender
- Important to be advocates for what we believe in
- Respect for Marriage Act
- The Democratic Party has been selling itself short in terms of public support/opinion => need to highlight achievements
- Beautiful thing is that millions of LGBTQAI+ people speak up and take part
- SCOTUS seems to be reshaping the role of the judiciary vs legislature
- Impact of Dobbs on marginalized groups
- Abortion as a reflection of the growing divide in what feels like a ‘social civil war’
- Abortion is not just a women’s issue bc bodily autonomy, decision making for families has more far-reaching impacts
- EMTALA (protection for underinsured at federal level)
- Are hospitals required to provide emergency medical care for abortions?
- We need the mindset that one person suffering impacts us all
- Ideas of how me might, at different institutional levels, work together for gender equality
- Movement as a force of water, advancing in any crevice it could => To courts, to legislature, to wherever there was an opening
- there is a space for protesting but we have to move beyond that => What matters most is what you do the day AFTER the protests
- We need data scientists, academics, etc. to collectively get involved in quieter ways
- Movements must involve people who may seem not to have anything in common
- highlight the relevance of personal stories, humanizing the impacts on and lives of people
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Often the left is about anger and criticizing what’s wrong, but marriage equality had a more positive spin- advocating people being able to celebrate, affirm love, etc. positive messaging works!!!
- Use the internet to not only bring up topics but also build solidarity on issues
- highlight and spotlight young people besides Malala and Greta→ “I can do that too!”
- Stories have power
- we need to engage people who feel that the system is stacked against them
- Youth participation in voting in 2022, turnout as huge potential in US
- we need to emphasize success stories, Rome wasn’t built in a day => Midterms were a hopeful point if we keep building
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“pocketbook impact” of marriage equality was an important one - need to review this point as well
- we need clear goals to unify diverse actors from all sectors - academics, researchers, lawyers, activists/civil society, business, students from difference backgrounds
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Actions you can take
- Share, Impact, Develop
- Donate, Promote, Organize