How is Performative Activism Perpetuated in Social Media?

By Maddie Possamai, Summer 2023 Collaborator at Power in Place

Image from: Maddie Possamai

With the rise of social media influencers along with accessible information through social media, performative activism has taken the internet by storm in recent years. Performative activism can be defined as when one's words or support for social justice causes does not accurately align with their actions. In recent years, due to the influx of Instagram infographics and a constant stream of new information, performative activism has taken shape when social media users consistently post about social justice issues but do not act the same way towards the issue outside of social media. The stream of accessible media and information comes with its pros and cons as it is accessible to more people as more and more people are on social media. But this also means it easily gets into the hands of social media influencers who use social justice issues to appear educated or build credibility among their followers as well as those who do not act the way they post.

One of the most memorable acts of performative activism among influencers and social media posts was the black square during the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020. In 2020, after the murder of George Floyd due to police brutality, the Black Lives Matter movement was in full swing on social media and in person, as many protests occurred as well. On social media, a “black square” movement occurred where many people posted a black square on Instagram with the caption “#blackouttuesday” to stand in solidarity with the movement. As many people posted the square to show support for the movement, many influencers just used this to establish authenticity to their followers, gain new followers, and show that they “supported” the Black Lives Matter movement. However, today many of the influencers and celebrities that would post about Black Lives Matter then have stopped posting about social justice issues. Black people still experience police brutality daily even if people are not posting about it. 

Other instances of performative activism include when one posts about certain social justice issues or supports a minority group but then associates themselves with those who directly go against those issues. Selena Gomez is a good example as she has spoken out on many social justice issues but has worked with Woody Allen, who has a plethora of sexual assault allegations. This goes along with celebrities who have been called out for being racist, such as doing blackface but then supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. According to Sandrine Jacquot, a writer at the Observer, many people have “an urge to ‘look good by doing good’” on social media as many people's lives are on display, however, their online thoughts do not correlate with their in-person actions. One cannot post and support the Black Lives Matter movement while consistently hanging out with racist individuals. Online activism without in-person change is solely performative.

Despite being incredibly accessible, the information that is constantly flowing on social media platforms creates limitations on activism outside of the online world. Performative activism may be successful in spreading awareness about issues but it is limited in creating tangible change. As stated above, many people tend to prioritize appearances when posting on social media, which creates a rather surface-level engagement. Even though social media makes it easy to post and spread awareness about certain issues, it also makes it easier for others to scroll past and ignore those issues. The biggest target in recent years has been Instagram Stories where you simply have to tap the screen to move past the story. When everyone's Instagram Story contains an infographic, it makes it easier for others to simply tap past it quickly. For example, the last time I posted something on my Instagram Story, I was able to see that over half of the viewers just skipped through it. 

To move beyond the limitations of performative activism, solidified change is required. As stated earlier, activism without solidified change, or change outside of the online world, is strictly performative. The best way to move beyond surface-level activism online is to advocate outside of the online world. Examples include voting, volunteering, and donating. More accessible initiatives include amplifying the voices of marginalized communities or educating oneself outside of online engagement. Even though online activism provides more accessible and readily available information, it has become inherently performative with the rise of social media influencers and the desire to appear a certain way online. Activism without change outside of the online spectrum is solely performative activism as it does not allow for sustainable change. Advocacy outside of the online world such as education, voting, and uplifting others allows for the gap between online activism and in-person to be filled, creating sustainable and lasting change in society as a whole.

References

[1] Alfaro, Cindy. “Performative Activism Kills, There Needs to be More Pressure to Vote.” The Cougar. May 30, 2022. https://thedailycougar.com/2022/05/30/performative-activism-kills-more-pressure-to-vote/

[2] Jacquot, Sandrine. “Social Media Activism: Accessible or Performative?” The Observer. January 20, 2022. https://theobserver-qiaa.org/social-media-activism-accessible-or-performative

[3] Thimsen, Freya. “What is Performative Activism.” Scholarly Publishing Collective. April 1, 2022. https://scholarlypublishingcollective.org/psup/p-n-r/article-abstract/55/1/83/297925/What-Is-Performative-Activism?redirectedFrom=fulltext

[4] Wellman, Mariah. “Black Squares for Black Lives? Performative Allyship as Credibility Maintenance for Social Media Influencers on Instagram.” Sage Journals. February 24, 2022. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20563051221080473#body-ref-bibr4-20563051221080473

Maddie Possamai is a rising junior at Wheaton College in Massachusetts majoring in Political Science with minors in Journalism and Visual Arts. At Wheaton College she is currently working on creating a Commuters Organization on campus to advocate for more benefits for commuter students. After graduating college, Maddie hopes to work in Political Journalism. 

Livia, Empress of Rome

By Adelyn Krucoff, Summer 2023 Collaborator at Power in Place

When you think of an empress of Rome, typically you don’t think of one who raised a cult, who maneuvered politically just like her husband, who was a competent advisor, and may or may not have poisoned several people. She was responsible for reigning in the slowly ever growing insanity of Tiberius, outlived Augustus, her second husband, by a good 15 years, and she held together the Julio Claudian dynasty by her fingertips. She was wise in a way few are, modest in a way very few with power are, and cunning in a way almost no one else ever has been. She was just utterly divine, which is probably why she was the driving force behind the cult of the newly Divine Augustus. 

Livia Drusilla was 16 years old in 43 BCE. She was modest, kind, young, and for a time married to someone lacking political intelligence. Tiberius Claudius Nero was her first husband, she was married off to him when he was aged 39 [1], but even in her youth, she was far smarter than him. Livia was young, but she was fiercely intelligent in Roman political spheres, she was a confident advisor, but was unfortunately being dragged around the entire Roman world by her husband's moronic decisions. First he supported Mark Antony in the battles of the 2nd Triumvirate and fled Rome to be with Antony’s brother in the city Perusia, a city currently under siege [2]. Then shockingly the city fell, meaning that both Nero and Livia had to flee twice more. During this, Nero got the brilliant idea to raise a slave army against Augustus [3]. While all this was happening the second Roman Emperor Tiberius was born, meaning Livia had to hop around the Roman world from ages 16 to 19 immediately after giving birth to a child [4]. Then they fled Italy to Sicily to be with Sextus Pompey, the pirate king who had declared open war on the Mediterranean to the entire Roman State, who would then lose as well to Augustus. It was only after 3 successive defeats and a bout of almost being hit by a bolt of lightning and a forest fire [5], that the couple would return to Rome and Italy after an amnesty was passed for all the politicians that had been caught on the wrong sides of the many many wars. This meant that Livia, who was pregnant again and had a young child, could finally return to Rome for a time to relax. Except, of course, she then went to a party while pregnant and Augustus was there and he instantly fell in love with her, upon first sight. This isn't technically true however, Augustus had to talk to Livia first, and then she absolutely wowed him with her intelligence about Roman politics, her humor and wit, and cunning nature. To say Augustus fell head over heels in love with Livia is an understatement. The problem of course was that both of them were currently married, and not only that both the wife of Augustus and Livia were extremely pregnant [6]. But since Rome was so politically volatile and Augustus’s marriage was political, Augustus didn’t actually care about his pregnant wife anymore. So they divorced the same day she gave birth to his only child, Julia. Livia then gave birth to Nero Claudius Drusus, and then 3 days later Livia and Augustus were married. Livia was handed away by her now ex-husband according to Cassius Dio “"just as a father would.”[7]. It was Augustus’s 3rd marriage at the age of 24, it was Livia’s second at the age of 20. The Romans were different I suppose. But this marriage was a major deviation from the Roman norm, it was for love. As far as one can tell, the 2 were genuinely in love, Augustus, like Caesar, had a few marriages before but the second time was the charm for Livia. The 2 would remain married for 51 years. 

How to wield soft power

It is important to know that Augustus Caesar was never once called Emperor. He was the first Emperor of Rome, Livia his Empress but neither were ever actually called that. The title of Emperor is a modern translation, it is adopted from the word “Imperator” [8] which means “to hold and wield command imperium” in the Roman state. After the suicide of Mark Antony, Gaius Julius Caesar or as modern historians call Octavion (Augustus) would be granted the title of Augustus by the Roman senate in 27 BCE the official, unofficial start of his reign [9]. Augustus would be given a litany of titles, but most importantly he was Princeps Civitatis meaning first citizen. He was also given the title of Imperator Caesar Divi Filius, "Commander Caesar son of the deified one" this is because he had his adopted father Julius Caesar declared a god by the Roman Senate [10], so he was the son of a god. This would eventually become the title used by Emperors. It would supplant Princeps in 69 CE when the Vespasian codified it into a version of a supreme Imperator, someone who wields supreme power in the Roman state, above everyone else. But of course, as time is linear, that had not happened yet. This meant that Augustus, though he had his titles and was son of a god, did not have the official power of an Emperor. And back to the whole point of this, it meant that Livia held no positions whatsoever. Meaning that Augustus did not have an official mandate or position atop the Roman state, so he had to pretend that there was still a functioning Republic. So in order to wield the power he now had he had to hide it, with advisors, with friends, with personal provinces that were unruly and just so happened to be the richest provinces, and with his wife. Livia was perhaps Augustus closest advisor, she would have been key in solving political issues between powerful families that she had been studying all her life. She would be consulted on just about every action Augustus made, she was put in charge of mines in Gaul [11]. She had her own court, her own advisors and patrons just like an Emperor would, she was extremely effective in pushing allies into political positions. She was able to incur such a good amount of political will from not only Augustus but the entire unofficial imperial administration because she showed not only fierce intelligence but loyalty, beyond the norm. Cassius Dio writes "When someone asked her how and by what course of action she had obtained such a commanding influence over Augustus, she answered that it was by being scrupulously chaste herself, doing gladly whatever pleased him, not meddling with any of his affairs, and, in particular, by pretending neither to hear of nor to notice the favorites that were the objects of his passion".[12] She feigned ignorance for her husbands womanizing, she allowed Augustus to seek sexual pleasures wherever he pleased because in part that was just expected of Women of the time. This however surely bought a great deal of goodwill for her from Augustus, the fact that she was never able to give him a child was ignored, in a time when wives were discarded frequently. She was married for 51 years to Augustus. It also helped that Augustus constantly got very very sick, and you really can’t divorce your wife if you're dying or about to die, and he was basically always dying his entire life [13]. There was also of course the fact that she may not have actually cared, the Romans swung like to an insane degree, she could have had an affair with a vestal virgin or two, there would be no real way to tell. But all good things must come to an end, and on August 19th, 14 CE Augustus would pass away, leaving Livia’s son Tiberius to take up his mantle. 

Try as you may, raising a husband is easier than raising a son.

Livia had two sons, Tiberius and Nero Claudius Drusus. Raising them was difficult to say the least. First off, Nero would die rather young, at 29. He was father of both Emperor Cladius, and Germanicus, both extremely under-appreciated Romans, but the death of her youngest son would deeply wound Livia for the rest of her life. She spoke of him often, erected statues, and named many things after him whenever she could. The main problem was her first son however, Tiberius. Tiberius was supposed to be raised by his father, also named Tiberius Claudius Nero, but he had passed away when he was 9, meaning that both children would return to Livia and Augustus. They were raised by Livia well enough that Augustus encouraged their politics, having Tiberius be questor at the age of 17 [14]. The problem was that Tiberius was not raised as Augustus’s heir. In fact at several different times there were 5 other Heirs of Augustus [15]. So there was always some resentment in the household that one, Augustus didn’t consider Tiberius and his brother to be his Heir and two, that Livia may or may not have been killing people to get her son back as Heir. Of course there is no real direct evidence of this. most ancient sources do not hesitate to point fingers at her however [16], but the child and young adult mortality rate in Rome was so astronomically high for the entire history of Rome it’s not impossible to think all these potential Heirs got unlucky. I have rejected this thinking before however with Olympias so my argument is rather simple, if Livia really wanted to have her son as Heir, she probably could have just asked, and Augustus being head over heels in love with her, probably accepts. This however points to a much more damaging understanding, that Livia did not want her son to succeed Augustus. She more likely wanted his power to expire, or to defer to her, and she would wield great power after Augustus died. But what is good for the mother, is often not for the son, Tiberius would at several times lash out at his mother, and their relationship never really recovered after the issue of succession was pushed to the forefront. 

The Cult of Augustus

Upon the death of her husband Livia Drusilla was officially adopted into the Julian family and thus was renamed Julia Augusta [17]. This was a last gift from Augustus to her, along with the third of his estate of course, the other ⅔ going to Tiberius. It was the transferring of the mantle Augustus, and as he was deified upon his death, Julia was now the wife and widow of a god. She would now be free to defend her husband's legacy, and to wield power, the only restriction of course was her now son, the Emperor Tiberius. So in other words, she was given permission to basically do whatever she wanted. But oftentimes people with power do boring things, Julia mostly did boring stuff like making sure the Empire ran well, helping Tiberius in his early years and keeping the Imperial administration running [18]. In the Roman East however, especially Egypt she got to do some cool stuff. Egypt had been the personal property of Augustus [19] in his life, technically no Roman Senator was allowed to go there without his permission. This meant that by all measures and fact, the Roman state in Egypt was basically just Augustus, and Livia. This meant that some Egyptians changed the months to names of Augustus’s family, including Liva [20]. While in the Roman West and the facade of Republic she was denied such godlike status, but the Roman East being much weirder than the West compared Liva to the goddess Juno, in Athens she shared honors with Hestia the goddess of the hearth. And with the death of her husband, she was now the only link to someone who had been Deified as a god, she was literally married to a god. She wasn’t the main focus of such worship in the East, or admiration in the West, but she still wielded immense power in that she was the last link to Augustus. Her loyalty would prove a worthwhile investment, she would outlive her Husband by 15 years, more than making up for his womanizing. But sometimes marrying a god isn’t enough.

Scorned by Tiberius

Much of the Early success of Tiberius can be attributed solely to that Livia, now Julia, ran basically half the imperial administration for him. Tiberius did not really want to be Emperor, but also was generally flip flopping on such a thing regularly. He said he took the title reluctantly, but also then took all of Augustus’s titles, even vetoing titles that were supposed to go to Livia. In order to stay in Imperial succession Tiberius was forced to divorce his first wife Vipsania Agrippina and marry Augustus’s only daughter Julia the Elder. He absolutely hated that he had to, unlike Augustus, marry for politics not love. He was forced basically into his first marriage and then fell in love with Vipsania until Augustus made him get divorced [21]. Tiberius in part blamed Livia. Now how much he blamed Livia is unclear, how much it affected him actually is also unclear, but earlier in Tiberius’s reign in 22 CE he rushed to his mothers bedside when she was ill. 7 years later, when she was ill again he did not, and Livia passed away. Other issues popped up as well, Tiberius might have resented the fact that his mom got the Throne for him, he rejected honors laid upon her, even rejecting her will after her death. Their relationship was strained by power, and by unfortunate events, monarchy is tricky business. I encourage you to look at the family trees left by Augustus and Tiberius, you will see that they were plucked clean by untimely deaths, and even more untimely murders. The simple reality is that they were never given a chance, all the island hopping that Livia had to embark with him, the death of his father at age 9, Augustus’s poor health that led to many conflicts with succession, and that Livia was so good at her job she didn’t really have time to raise her children. Upon Livia’s death Tiberius would retreat even further from Rome, a reign of terror that may not have happened then came upon the elite and political classes [22]. Tiberius had enlisted Sejanus to replace his mother, he was much less competent however and had to be purged with fire a few years later. Livia was the imperial administration in the 15 years of her life after Augustus’s death, she was more than an Empress, she was the Empire itself. Her divinity should be remembered alongside Augustus, her failures understood, and her legacy? It speaks for itself. 

References

[1] Mingren, Wu “Livia Drusilla: Imperial Wife of Rome and Emperor Maker” https://www.ancient-origins.net/, 05/25/2021 https://www.ancient-origins.net/history-famous-people/livia-drusilla-0015365

[2] Tiberius, Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Tiberius 

[3] "Tacitus on the Transition from Augustus to Tiberius" https://facultystaff.richmond.edu/~wstevens/history331texts/augtotib.html

[4] Huntsman D., Eric "LIVIA BEFORE OCTAVIAN", jstor.org/, 2009, https://www.jstor.org/stable/44079922

[5] Historia Civilis, “Sextus Pompeius and the Sicilian War (42 to 36 B.C.E.)” 01/16/2021, https://youtu.be/8rt67AqrR74?t=1149 

[6] Strunk, E. Thomas, "Rape and Revolution : Livia and Augustus in Tacitus' "Annales"

[7] Cassius, Dio page 315 https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/e/roman/texts/cassius_dio/48*.html

[8] “imperator” Webster's dictionary, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/imperator 

[9] Aldrete, Gregory Ph.D, "Unpacking the Titles of Augustus: Wordplay and Double Meanings", wondriumdaily.com, 10/21/2019, https://www.wondriumdaily.com/unpacking-the-titles-of-augustus-wordplay-and-double-meanings/

[10] Watkins, Thayer "A Timeline of the Life of Julius Caesar", https://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/caesarjulius.htm, 

[11] Davies, Oliver “Roman Mines in Europe”, https://www.cambridge.org/, 1935, https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-roman-studies/article/abs/oliver-davies-roman-mines-in-europe-oxford-the-clarendon-press-1935-pp-291-xii-with-49-text-illustrations-and-10-maps-30s/CC113F51DD0BDD9574A4F89DD04AACFD

 [12] Cassius, Dio “Roman History, 58.2” https://lexundria.com/, https://lexundria.com/dio/58.2/cy

[13] “Augustus' Health from Suetonius” unrv.com/, 01/30/2011, https://www.unrv.com/forum/topic/12020-augustus-health-from-suetonius/

[14] Gill, N.S, "Biography of Tiberius, 1st Century Roman Emperor" thoughtco.com, 07/09/2019, https://www.thoughtco.com/tiberius-roman-emperor-121262

[15] "Tiberius: the man who didn't want to be emperor", historyskills.com, https://www.historyskills.com/classroom/ancient-history/anc-tiberius-reading/

[16] Button, Meagan, "Livia Drusilla: Deciphering Between Traditional Views of Rome’s First Lady" Western Oregon University, 06/06/2009, https://wou.edu/history/files/2015/08/Megan-Poole-HST-499.pdf

[17] "Livia Drusilla ( Julia Augusta)", timetoast.com, https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/livia-drusilla-julia-augusta

[18] Barrett A. Athony,  "Livia: First Lady of Imperial Rome, Chapter 8 mother of the emperor", Yale university press, 2002, https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1nq0jw.15 

[19]-[20] Dundas S, Gregory, "Augustus and the Kingship of Egypt", jstor.org, 2002, https://www.jstor.org/stable/4436668

[21] Cassar, Claudine "The Life and Times of Emperor Tiberius: A Comprehensive Overview"  anthropologyreview.org, 03/23/2023, https://anthropologyreview.org/anthropology-archaeology-news/emperor-tiberius/#Personal_Life_and_Relationships

[22] Leveritt, Will "On this day in AD 31 the Praetorian Prefect Sejanus was executed.", blogs.nottingham.ac.uk/, 10/18/2016, University of Nottingham, https://blogs.nottingham.ac.uk/mintimperials/2016/10/18/day-ad-31-praetorian-prefect-sejanus-executed/

Adelyn, sometimes called Aaron Krucoff is a rising senior at University of Maryland Baltimore county, majoring in history and minoring in political science. She is currently president of the Chess Club, and can be found routinely by the library protesting the school's past abuse of Vivien Barrett. After graduating she has no idea what she wishes to do, but is enjoying the ride.

The Success and Necessity of Historically Women’s Colleges

By Kate Vavra, Summer 2023 Collaborator at Power in Place

Today, women increasingly outnumber men in colleges throughout the United States. This makes it easy to forget that higher education was created for men, not women. Historically, even privileged wealthy women were unable to receive the same degrees as their brothers. They were instead educated at home or in a finishing school. The oldest college in the U.S., Harvard University, established in 1636, did not admit women for over three hundred years. As a response, women’s colleges became established around the country throughout the 19th century. These institutions offered women the opportunity to obtain an advanced education and degree that would allow them to influence the public and professional sphere. Some of the most prestigious of these schools are Mount Holyoke College, Vassar College, Wellesley College, Smith College, Radcliffe College, Bryn Mawr College, and Barnard College, otherwise known as the Seven Sisters. “The Seven Sister schools were supposed to be the female counterparts to the male Ivy-league colleges, a connection that served them well as they strived to make the quality of education for female students equal to the education of men at the best men’s colleges of the day” [2]. Although Radcliffe was absorbed by Harvard in 1999 and Vassar became coeducational in 1969, this group became the inspiration for women’s colleges throughout the country. 

Although the large majority of colleges today admit both men and women, historically women’s colleges continue to produce powerful female figures. While women’s college graduates represent less than two percent of the American population, one-third of female board members on the annual Fortune 1000 list, 30 percent of the women on Businessweek’s list of Rising Stars in Corporate America, nine percent of female CEOs on the S&P 500, and over 20 percent of female US Congress members graduated from a historically women’s college. Some notable women who attended a historically women’s college include Frances Perkins, Margaret Atwood, Meryl Streep, Zora Neale Hurston, Nancy Pelosi, Madeleine Albright, Helen Keller, and Hillary Clinton. These women broke precedent in their disciplines and paved the way for future females to make their own marks. 

When looking at comments from women’s college students and graduates, it becomes easy to understand why they become so successful after graduation. They detail that “the women’s college experience integrated values and ethics in the learning, which helped them to develop moral principles that continue to guide their actions” [3]. While in school, women’s college students report greater participation in campus leadership, internships, extracurricular activities, and community service. Much of the coursework at women’s colleges is focused on leadership and the individual, giving students the space to directly engage with their education. With this in mind, it makes sense that 81 percent of historically women’s college graduates go on to receive advanced degrees and they are twice as likely to go to medical school than graduates from a coeducational institution

As I approach my second year at Mount Holyoke, the oldest of the Seven Sisters, I become increasingly thankful for my college community. My classmates spend their days passionately working towards a future of increased creativity, equality, and opportunity. My professors are wholeheartedly dedicated to helping me reach my goals. I don’t feel like I am competing with my classmates for educational and professional opportunities, conversely, we work together. Additionally, being a member of a Seven Sisters institution gives me access to an extensive alumni network in addition to my individual school. Overall, my historically women’s college has given me the skills and resources I need to build the future I want for myself. 

Today’s male-dominated society is difficult for women to navigate, no matter how intelligent they are. Although there are many high-quality coeducational colleges and universities throughout the nation, it is necessary to maintain guarded havens for women and non-binary individuals within higher education. Historically women’s colleges have repeatedly produced revolutionary individuals, and the world would not be the same without them. 

References 

[1] Carlton, Genevieve. “A History of Women in Higher Education.” Best Colleges. March 20, 2023. https://www.bestcolleges.com/news/analysis/2021/03/21/history-women-higher-education/ 

[2] Feroe, John. “The Founding of The Seven Sisters.” Vassar Encyclopedia. May 1, 2007.

https://vcencyclopedia.vassar.edu/notable-events/the-seven-sisters/ 

[3] Free, Rhona. “Women’s Colleges Produce Strong Leaders.” Hartford Courant. December 6, 2015. https://www.courant.com/2015/12/06/womens-colleges-produce-strong-leaders/ 

[4] Kerpen, Carrie. “Want Your Daughter To Go To The C-Suite? Send Her To A Women’s College.” Forbes. Oct 19, 2021. https://www.forbes.com/sites/carriekerpen/2021/10/19/want-your-daughter-to-go-to-the-c-suite-send-her-to-a-womens-college/?sh=cabab8598469

[5] Moody, Josh. “A Guide to Women's Colleges.” US News. May 18, 2021.

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles

/a-guide-to-womens-colleges

Kate Vavra is a rising sophomore at Mount Holyoke College and is double majoring in International Relations and French. On campus, Kate plays varsity tennis and serves as the Community Service Subcommittee Chair on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee. After graduation, Kate hopes to go to law school and become an attorney.

Catcalling Kills

By Kaitlyn Nguyen, Summer 2023 Power in Place Collaborator

Her name was Ruth George. 

She was only 19 years old when she was catcalled to her death. She had only experienced one year of college before all her future plans died with her in the backseat of her parked car. 

Catcalling kills. Catcalling killed Ruth George. 

After a long night out with her professional fraternity, George was dropped off in front of the all too familiar parking structure at the University of Illinois-Chicago. As she walked back to her car, George was approached by 26 year old Donal Thurman, who had followed her in. Trying to demand her attention, Thurman shouted degrading comments to the young college student, who chose to respond in the most appropriate way possible- she ignored him and kept walking. The next morning, Ruth George was found unconscious in the backseat of her car. Authorities were led to believe she was choked to death by Thurman, who decided that being ignored tha night was his last straw. 

It’s a harsh reality that almost every single woman and young girl has experienced. Part of the female experience is thoughtfully deciding how to respond in certain situations to de-escalate the imminent threat of violence. Oftentimes, women feel like the best response to catcallers is silence, solely because their safety is never promised. As a result, the effects of catcalling psychologically affect women down the line. It forces victims to rethink their mindless habits by avoiding certain streets and minimizing their expression of revealing clothing. Yet, studies have shown that the occurrence of catcalling has nothing to do with the decisions women make everyday. According to an online survey, 99 percent of respondents had experienced street harassment in public places. And, about 45 percent of women reported that they experienced sexist comments in public at least 25 times in their lifetime. In fact, in New York, catcalling is only another part of many women’s daily routine. 

In 2014, an anti-street harassment organization known as Hollaback! released a video of a woman walking through the streets of New York for 10 hours. In that video, the woman was catcalled over 100 times while wearing a plain black t-shirt and jeans. From the social experiment, Hollaback! found that catcallers responded poorly to being ignored by their victims. The woman walking through the streets of New York had received backlash from the offenders with comments suggesting she should be grateful for their “compliments”. The video released by Hollaback! exposes daily life through the lens of young women. Acknowledgement of the normalcy of catcalling has since then been brought to the attention of countless authorities. In fact, several countries and regions have made sexual street harassment illegal. For instance, in 2018, France passed a law that allowed police officers to sanction harassment perpetrators in the moment, rather than waiting out strenuous public trial processes. And in both New York and California, state law criminalizes aggravated harassment in public places, which even covers willful conduct towards a specific person that so much as annoys them without a legitimate purpose! 

All in all, progress has been made towards chastising catcalling. As we hear the stories of women, we empathize with their female experience in today’s society, and we adapt to wane the effects of street harassment

References 

[1] Alter Charlotte. “Watch This Woman Get Harassed 108 Times While Walking in New York City.” Time. October 28, 2014. https://time.com/3543632/street-harassment-hollaback-video/ 

[2] Bosman, Julie. “A College Student Was Killed by a Man Whose Catcalls She Tried to Ignore, Prosecutors Say.” The New York Times. November 27, 2019. 

[3] Kendja, Avondale. “Catcalling Kills: Defining the Impacts of Street Harassment.” Garbo. August 2, 2021. https://www.garbo.io/blog/catcalling-street-harassment 

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/27/us/chicago-college-student-killed-catcall.html 

[4] Roy, Jessica. “Another Woman Killed for Turning a Man Down.” The Cut. January 26, 2016. https://www.thecut.com/2016/01/another-woman-killed-for-turning-a-man-down.html 

[5] Sharkey, Joe. “A Worldwide Fight Against Street Harassment.” The New York Times. October 21, 2013. https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/22/business/fighting-harassment-of-women-on-streets-worldwide.html?searchResultPosition=2 

Kaitlyn Nguyen is a rising sophomore majoring in Political Science at UCLA. She’s aiming to pursue a minor in social data analysis, with a concentration in international politics. On campus, Kaitlyn works to provide free resources for homeless women and children in the downtown region of Los Angeles. In her free time, she loves cooking and whipping up drinks as a barista! This summer, she’s working part time at a cute local cafe and interning for PiP! 

WGA, SAG-AFTRA Strike, and The Gender Wage Gap

By Emma Quirk, Summer 2023 Power in Place Collaborator

Disclaimer: This blog looks at the gender pay gap with a strict male/female lens in order to accurately describe the data and research done on this topic. 

Two major unions in the entertainment industry are on strike. Since May 2, the Writers Guild of America has been on strike, and on July 17 The Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists joined them. This is the first time the WGA and SAG-AFTRA have been on strike at the same time since 1960. The WGA details how streaming has negatively impacted compensation for writers in a report called “Writers Are Not Keeping Up.” 

Both unions are led by women; Meredith Stiehm is President of the WGA and Fran Drescher is head of SAG-AFTRA. Drescher has stated that joining in on the strike was necessary, not only for the entertainment industry but for all industries. “I am shocked by the way the people that we have been in business with are treating us. I cannot believe it, quite frankly, how far apart we are on so many things. How they plead poverty, that they’re losing money left and right when giving hundreds of millions of dollars to their CEOs. It is disgusting. Shame on them. They stand on the wrong side of history,” Drescher said in a speech. “We are labor and we stand tall and we demand respect and to be honored for our contribution. You share the wealth because you cannot exist without us.” 

While Drescher and Stiehm are fighting for labor rights for all in Hollywood, a gender-based discrepancy exists. It has been found that in top-grossing movies, women have fewer lines, less of a presence, and often are put into supporting roles. Only 36 percent of all major characters are women and only 35 percent of actresses are given speaking roles. In feature films, only 31 percent are women-led stories. In terms of the gender wage gap, there is an “unexplained” wage difference of about 25 percent between male and female actors. Even for big stars, there is at least a $1 million difference per film. Women who work in other roles in Hollywood, especially as writers and directors, are paid less than their male counterparts and they are often not afforded the same number of opportunities. 

Gender pay inequities are not only present in the entertainment industry but in every industry. According to the State of Working America Wages Report, highlighting data from 2019-2022, while low-wage workers made higher hourly rates overall, the gender pay gap has actually widened. In 2019, women were paid 20.3 percent less than men on average, but by 2022 the gap widened to 22.2 percent. No matter how the wage gap is measured, it persists. This disparity is a result of societal norms, discrimination, occupational segregation, and devaluation of women’s labor. 

Education does not negate the gap; women with a high school diploma are paid 78.6 percent of what men with a high school diploma are, and it only increases with the level of education. Between workers with college degrees, women are paid 70.2 percent and with advanced degrees, women are paid 69.8 percent of what men are. 

Race and ethnicity also play a dominant factor. These averages erase the discrepancies that Black and Hispanic women face. While white women are paid 82.5 percent and Asian American and Pacific Islander women are paid 93.4 percent of what non-Hispanic white men are paid on average, Black women are only paid 69.5 percent, and Hispanic women are only paid 64.1 percent. These disparities are enormous.  

Beyond participating in the gender wage gap, Hollywood has had a unique impact on perpetuating it. Through the media it produces, which more often than not abides by strict gender stereotypes, the general public sees men in positions of power and respect, while women are shown to be mere side characters, subordinate, and in need of saving. This is also true in the way white men and women are the protagonists and even the majority of side characters, while BIPOC characters are far less likely to be found. While there has been more discussion surrounding representation in media in recent years, not enough has been done to improve the systemic disparities between men and women, white men and BIPOC, and white women and Black and Hispanic women. 

References

[1] Frank, Jason. “The 2023 Hollywood Strike for Dummies.” Vulture. July 19, 2023. https://www.vulture.com/article/wga-strike-2023.html.  

[2] Gould, Elise and Katherine deCourcy. “Gender wage gap widens even as low-wage workers see strong gains.” Economic Policy Institute. March 29, 2023. https://www.epi.org/blog/gender-wage-gap-widens-even-as-low-wage-workers-see-strong-gains-women-are-paid-roughly-22-less-than-men-on-average/.   

[3] Park, Joann. “Uncovering Hollywood’s Contribution to the Gender Pay Gap.” Berkeley Political Review. October 12, 2022. https://bpr.berkeley.edu/2022/10/12/uncovering-hollywoods-contribution-to-the-gender-pay-gap/.  

[4] “SAG-AFTRA head Fran Drescher: What she said about actors strike.” Al Jazeera. July 14, 2023. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/14/sag-aftra-head-fran-drescher-what-she-said-about-actors-strike.  

Emma Quirk is a rising sophomore at Mount Holyoke College and is double majoring in English and Critical Social Thought. On campus, Emma is a staff writer and photos editor for Mount Holyoke News and works as a student fellow in the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Assata Shakur and Her Influence on Grassroots Movements

By Katerina Svoronos, Summer 2023 Power in Place Collaborator

Grassroots movements have been an essential part of American history for a long time. To this day, people will come together with a common goal in order to enact change. The difference between a grassroots movement in comparison to a regular social movement is that they use bottom up efforts starting at a localized level to gather initial support rather than top down effots. Most regular social movements try to gain traction by working at a national level. Grassroots movements have been increasingly used by social justice movements,  as they usually do not have a lot of funding, but instead rely on the power of human motivation for their activism. The civil rights movements of the 1950s and 1960s had a lot of grassroots activism involved because it was important to attack the issue from all angles. Assata Shakur was a big part of those movements. 

In today’s day and age, when people hear the name Assata Shakur, they often feel conflicted. On one hand, she is a hero to many for the hard work and perseverance she put in during the civil rights movements. On the other hand, she is on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists list, which is quite daunting. Despite this, I argue that she is one of the most influential women of the past 100 years and that she should be seen as an inspiration rather than be villainized. 

Assata Shakur, a black woman, grew up in the South during the Jim Crow era, an extremely difficult time period for people of color. During her adolescence, she faced a lot of racism both through macro and microaggressions. It shaped her in a way that was irreversible. Her experiences made her become interested in civil rights. As she got older she began to discover her passion for not only the civil rights movement but the movements and work that came after. Shakur joined the Black Liberation Army, in the hope to garner more attention for the common goal of equal rights. She considered herself a radical black feminist, which meant that she was willing to do anything for the liberation of black people and women. There was a lot of intersectionality between these two movements and Shakur helped to build a bridge between the two. While some of her methods were unconventional and dangerous, such as robbing banks, she also spent a lot of hours behind closed doors educating her fellow peers and spreading the message locally. Shakur started working for the BLA throughout New York, handing out pamphlets and spreading information through rallies. Her grassroots movement was of utmost importance to both the feminist movement and  the aftermath of the civil rights movement, as both struggles were not over. 

Unfortunately Shakur’s life took quite the turn when she was involved in an incident of police brutality. While pulled over for a very minor issue, a police officer became suspicious of her and her unarmed friends. The officer shot and killed one of Shakur’s friends, and alongside that Shakur became injured. Shakur shot back in self defense, yet she was convicted of a multitude of crimes. There is much evidence that shows how her trial was unjust, but in the end she was sentenced to life in prison anyways. Eventually, Shakur escaped and now lives in Cuba, where she was granted political asylum. However, the FBI continues to go after her, despite the fact that there is evidence that she was given an unfair trial. Today Shakur is still advocating for herself and for the movements she believes in. 

What sort of viewpoint should we see Assata Shakur from now? I would argue that she is an inspiration in many ways. While there is no condoning some of the violent methods that she used, her tireless efforts to further the movements she believed in should encourage us all to never give up. Grassroots movements helped to bring about some of the most important changes in this country, and racialized profiling and injustice are the cause for Shakur’s escape. While the FBI is still pursuing her case, in today’s modern society,we should be able to recognize that the justice system failed her again and again. Shakur’s involvement in the civil rights grassroots movement did bring about a lot of positive change, and she showed us the potential impacts that advocating at a local level can have on society. 

References 

[1] Adewunmi, Bin. “Assata Shakur: from civil rights activist to FBI’s most-wanted.” The Guardian. July 13, 2014. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/jul/13/assata-shakur-civil-rights-activist-fbi-most-want ed
[2] Longley, Robert. “What is a Grassroots Movement? Definition and Examples.” ThoughtCo. July 29, 2022. https://www.thoughtco.com/grassroots-movement-definition-and-examples-5085222

Katerina Svoronos is a rising sophomore at Haverford College. She is an intended political science major with a concentration in international relations and law. She hopes to be a journalist one day and would love to work for the New York Times. In her free time she loves watching movies, hanging out with family and friends, and exploring new places.

Queer Representation in US Politics: Progress and Challenges

By Molly McNamara, Summer 2023 Power in Place Collaborator

Being an openly queer individual in the United States has become increasingly challenging, with hate crimes and anti-LGBTQ+ legislation on the rise. Many people live in fear of discrimination and violence for their identity, leading many to keep their sexuality private. This is true not only for the average individual but also for politicians. Being openly part of the LGBTQ+ community can be risky for current and prospective politicians as their identity may lead to lower approval ratings, losing votes, and increased prejudice. But thankfully, queer representation in government is expanding. More and more elected officials are coming out, but more needs to be done to create an environment that is safe for LGBTQ+ politicians.

Electoral discrimination against queer politicians in the US is a substantial problem. Research shows that gay candidates face a 6.7 percent loss in points compared to their heterosexual counterparts. For lesbians and transgender individuals, the penalty is even higher. Among more liberal voters, discrimination is significantly less, while right-wing voters have a much higher rate of discrimination against queer candidates. This leads many candidates to not announce their sexuality during their campaign or wait until they are elected to come out publicly. This fosters an environment that is hostile to queer politicians and limits LGBTQ+ representation in government. 

Thankfully, more and more queer politicians are entering politics despite the risk of discrimination. The 118th Congress has a record number of lesbian, gay, and bisexual members. There are 11 House members and two Senate members that are openly queer, which is almost double that of just 10 years ago. While this is steady progress, these individuals only account for roughly two percent of Congressional members. It is estimated that 6.5 percent of Americans are part of the LGBTQ+ community, making the Congressional representation small in comparison. 

While queer representation may not be high, there are still some important queer women, non-binary, and transgender politicians that serve as an inspiration for the LGBTQ+ community today. Tammy Baldwin currently serves as a senator for Wisconsin and has been in politics since the 1980s. She was the first openly lesbian woman to be elected to the US Senate and is an advocate for queer equality. Danica Roem was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 2017 and became the first openly transgender person to serve in any state’s legislature. The first openly non-binary member of a state legislature was Mauree Turner of Oklahoma. All of these individuals and many more are helping create an environment that is safe and inclusive for LGBTQ+ people. 

Queer representation like this is crucial for members of this community, especially young people. Roughly 20 percent of the adult Generation-Z population identifies as LGBTQ+, while about 10 percent of Millennials and four percent of Generation X do. Millions of Americans are part of this community and need to have voices in government to represent them and their interests. These elected officials also serve as role models for young queer people. 

There is still a lot to be hopeful about surrounding queer representation despite the rise in discrimination and hate. Fortunately, queer politicians are helping to inspire queer youth and help push for positive LGBTQ+ legislation, creating a space and a voice for a group that has often been silenced and excluded. In order to help create this safe space, it is important to vote for queer politicians who are fighting for LGBTQ+ rights and voting for ballot measures that protect the queer community. 

References

 [1] Schaeffer, Katherine. “118th Congress breaks record for lesbian, gay, and bisexual representation.” Pew Research. January 11, 2023

https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/01/11/118th-congress-breaks-record-for-lesbian-gay-and-bisexual-representation/  

[2] Hall, Jake. “Lesbian, gay and trans politicians still face ‘electoral discrimination’, eye-opening study finds.” PinkNews. August 10, 2021

https://www.thepinknews.com/2021/08/10/lgbt-politicians-discrimination/

[3] Jones, Sam. “Fact Sheet: Anti-LGBT+ Mobilization in the United States.” ACLED. November 23, 2022

https://acleddata.com/2022/11/23/update-fact-sheet-anti-lgbt-mobilization-in-the-united-states/

[4] Waxman, Olivia. “How Congressman Gerry Studds Made History by Coming Out as Gay,” TIME, June 1, 2023

https://time.com/6282755/first-gay-congressman-gerry-studds/

[5] Doherty, Erin. “The number of LGBTQ-identifying adults is soaring,” AXIOS, February 19, 2022. 

https://www.axios.com/2022/02/17/lgbtq-generation-z-gallup

[6] Dowd, Rachel. “LGBT people nine times more likely than non-LGBT people to be victims of violent hate crimes,” UCLA Law School: Williams Institute, December 21, 2022

https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/press/lgbt-hate-crimes-press-release/

Molly McNamara is a rising Junior at George Washington University. She is double majoring in Political Science and American Studies with a minor in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Molly is involved in the GW campus chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and is interested in writing, mental health advocacy, and political engagement. After college she hopes to either enter the political realm or nonprofit work in hopes to create a more equitable society.

Edith Wilson

By Sean Skoog, Summer 2023 Power in Place Collaborator

Although there have been many influential First Ladies who have left their mark on the nation, few have had an impact as profound and perhaps controversial as Edith Wilson. While officially known as the second wife of the 28th President of the United States, Woodrow Wilson, Edith's role in the White House extended far beyond that of a typical First Lady, particularly during the last two years of her husband's second term In fact, some historians have referred to her as the "First Female President."

Edith Bolling Galt was born on October 15, 1872, in Wytheville, Virginia, and raised in a family that valued education and public service. Edith's sharp intellect and strong personality set her apart from her peers from a young age. After the death of her first husband, Norman Galt, in 1908, Edith's path took an unexpected turn when she met Woodrow Wilson, then President of Princeton University, in 1915. Their connection was immediate, and they were married on December 18 that same year.

Edith's transformation from a private citizen to an influential political figure began during her husband's presidency. As World War I raged across Europe, President Wilson faced immense pressure to lead the United States through tumultuous times. Edith became an essential confidante to the President, offering advice and insight into complex matters of statecraft.

However, it was in the last years of Woodrow Wilson's second term that Edith's role would become even more significant. In 1919, President Wilson suffered a severe stroke that left him incapacitated. The nation, unaware of the severity of his condition, believed he would soon recover. Behind closed doors, Edith grappled with a difficult decision – she could either reveal the truth about the President's condition, potentially causing chaos, or assume a more active role in governing to preserve stability.

With patriotism and a sense of duty to the nation, Edith chose the latter. She took on the responsibility of acting as a "steward" for her husband, controlling the information that reached him and making critical decisions on his behalf. For nearly a year, Edith became the de facto President of the United States, though she exercised her authority behind the scenes to maintain the illusion of President Wilson's leadership.

During this extraordinary period, Edith effectively ran the White House, conducting meetings with Cabinet members and managing the affairs of the country. She proved herself to be a competent and skilled leader, handling domestic and international issues with remarkable acumen. Edith's influence over the President's decisions was profound, leading many to speculate that she was, in essence, the nation's first female President.

Edith's tenure as the "First Female President" was not without controversy. Some critics argued that her actions were unconstitutional and that a woman should not wield such power. However, many others praised her for her strength, intelligence, and devotion to the country during a time of crisis.

As President Wilson's second term came to an end, Edith reluctantly relinquished her unofficial duties, stepping back from the spotlight. Despite the passage of time, the debate surrounding her role in the White House continues to captivate historians and political scholars.

Beyond her time as an unofficial leader, Edith Wilson remained active in public life, advocating for women's rights and various social causes. Her legacy serves as an enduring reminder of the potential for women to hold positions of power and influence in American politics.

In the end, Edith Wilson's story challenges traditional notions of the First Lady's role, and whether one considers her the "First Female President" or simply an extraordinary woman who rose to the occasion in a time of crisis, her impact on American history is undeniable. Edith's strength, resilience, and love for her country left an indelible mark, shaping the course of the nation and inspiring generations of women to pursue their dreams and ambitions in the realm of politics and leadership.

References

[1] Black, Allida. “Edith Bolling Galt Wilson.” The White House. January 15, 2021. https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/first-families/edith-bolling-galt-wilson/

Sean Skoog is a rising junior at the University of Michigan majoring in Political Science. In his free time, he enjoys discussing and analyzing politics, traveling, and spending time with friends and family. One day, he hopes to be a campaign strategist for a high profile campaign.

The Equal Rights Amendment: Is A Century Enough?

By Tori Zucco, Summer 2023 Power in Place Collaborator

On July 21, 1923 – almost exactly one hundred years ago – the Equal Rights Amendment was unveiled in Seneca Falls, New York by Alice Paul. After the 19th Amendment had finally passed in 1920, Paul and other suffragettes wanted to take women’s rights a step further: they wanted gender equality to be explicit in the Constitution. So, they got together and authored a new amendment that would do just that. The Equal Rights Amendment as it was unveiled by Paul was simple. It read “Men and women shall have equal rights through the United States and every place subject to its jurisdiction.” This amendment was meant to be a huge step in giving women the rights and privileges that men have held since the founding of this nation. Unfortunately, a full century later, it is still not part of the Constitution. 

The ERA was introduced in Congress for the first time in December 1923. Unsurprisingly, it failed to pass and little progress was made over time. It was introduced in every session of Congress since 1923 and only made headway in the 1970s. After 49 years of rejection, the Equal Rights Amendment was passed by both chambers of Congress in 1972. By this time, the ERA had been revised and the new text read: “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on the account of sex.” 

The next necessary step to becoming an amendment is for the text to be ratified by 38 states. Congress placed a seven year deadline on the ratification process and left the states to do their thing. Things got off to an optimistic start: 30 of the necessary 38 states had ratified the ERA within a year. However, momentum slowed. By the end of the seven years, it had only been ratified by 35 states. Congress voted to extend the deadline by an additional three years, but the proposed amendment was not ratified by a single additional state in that time period. In fact, opinions had shifted so heavily that five states voted to rescind their ratification of the ERA. By the time they reached the extended 1982 deadline, many people had considered the Equal Rights Amendment a lost cause. 

The ERA remained sidelined until 2017 when, 35 years after the extended deadline, it was ratified by Nevada. The resurgence of attention on the ERA was likely due to the increase of women’s activism and women-centric social movements such as the Women’s March on Washington and the #MeToo Movement. Illinois followed Nevada in 2018 and Virginia became the 38th state to ratify the amendment in 2020. Virginia’s ratification should’ve satisfied the final requirements for the ERA to become an official part of the Constitution. However, it has faced roadblocks that continue to stand in the way of its adoption.

There are a few issues stopping the ERA from being validated. The main hurdles are conflicting legal opinions and lack of precedent. Some believe that Virginia is not actually the 38th state to ratify the ERA. Given that Kentucky, Nebraska, Tennessee, South Dakota, and Idaho rescinded their ratifications, some conservative lawmakers and legal scholars believe that the proposed amendment must be ratified by five more states. However, unratification has not stopped previous amendments from being adopted. Several states rescinded their ratification of the 14th and 15th Amendments after the Civil War but Congress disregarded these rescissions and declared the amendments ratified. The same should be done for the ERA. 

Those who feel the ERA’s adoption would be invalid also blame the blown deadline. Nevada, Illinois, and Virginia were late to the game. Some – mainly Republican – lawmakers and legal scholars believe that these states’ ratifications are null and void because they did not occur within the set timeline. Other scholars, however, believe that if Congress has the power to impose a deadline, they also have the power to dissolve it. It’s important to mention that the deadline is included in the resolution argument proposing the amendment, not in the text of the amendment itself. Because of this, many legal scholars argue that Congress has the power to dissolve the deadline. 

With all of these roadblocks, the ERA remains in limbo. It’s stuck in this strange phase where it’s satisfied all of the requirements to be an amendment but hasn’t officially been adopted as part of the Constitution. Efforts have been made to validate the ERA but they have unfortunately been unsuccessful. The text of the amendment states that it would go into effect two years after being ratified. If things had gone accordingly after Virginia’s ratification, gender equality would have become a constitutional right in 2022. If the ERA had gone into effect, the Supreme Court likely would not have been able to overturn Roe v. Wade with the Dobbs decision last summer. The ERA would also support expanding protections provided by the Violence Against Women Act, close loopholes that subtly permit wage discrimination, and strengthen legal cases related to TItle IX. Without it, we only have rights to lose.

No one is harmed by the Equal Rights Amendment. Yet it is stuck at a standstill because of antiquated processes and conservatives who seek to block initiatives that undo power structures they benefit from. How much longer will it take? It’s already been a hundred years, will it take a hundred more? How many rights will we lose in the meantime?

References

[1] Baker, Carrie N. “Fifty Years Later, the Equal Rights Amendment Is Ratified. Now What?” Ms. Magazine. February 10, 2022. https://msmagazine.com/2022/02/10/equal-rights-amendment-ratified/ 

[2] Bleiweis, Robin. “The Equal Rights Amendment: What You Need To Know.” Center for American Progress. January 29, 2020. https://www.americanprogress.org/article/equal-rights-amendment-need-know/

[3] Cohen, Alex and Wilfred U. Codrington III. “The Equal Rights Amendment Explained.” Brennan Center for Justice. January 23, 2020. https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/equal-rights-amendment-explained

[4] Dismore, David M. “Today in Feminist History: Suffrage Is Not Sufficient, The Lucretia Mott Amendment (July 21, 1923).” Ms. Magazine. July 21, 2020. https://msmagazine.com/2020/07/21/feminist-history-july-21/ 

[5] Kurtzleben, Danielle. “House Votes To Revive Equal Rights Amendment, Removing Ratification Deadline.” NPR. February 13, 2020. https://www.npr.org/2020/02/13/805647054/house-votes-to-revive-equal-rights-amendment-removing-ratification-deadline 
[6] Puckett-Pope, Lauren. “The Equal Rights Amendment Could Still Pass Today – Here’s How You Can Support It.” Harper’s Bazaar. August 26, 2020. https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/politics/a32175363/what-is-the-equal-rights-amendment-today/

Tori Zucco is a rising senior at Wheaton College Massachusetts majoring in Sociology with a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies. She is interested in social justice, reproductive justice, and writing. On campus, Tori works as a Peer Writing Tutor.

Sarah Stankorb's Per-Sister Speaker Series Talk

Sarah Stankorb via sarahstankorb.com

We want to extend our deepest gratitude to Sarah Stankorb for participating in our Per-Sister Speaker Series!

Sarah Stankorb graduated from Westminster College with honors in Philosophy and World Religions, as well as the University of Chicago Divinity School with a master’s degree focused on ethics and South Asian religion and history. She boasts an impressive background as an award-winning writer with work featured in The New York Times, Washington Post, Vogue, The Atlantic, and other acclaimed publications. She has directed the communications of multiple nonprofits focused on environmental advocacy, conservation, and education, and currently serves as the Vice Mayor of the Wyoming City Council.

During her talk, Stankorb shared insights into her upcoming book Disobedient Women (to be published August 8th) which describes the stories of women who utilized the internet to speak out about the abuse they experienced in their American Christian churches and communities, despite being taught not to threaten or question the men in their communities. In her talk, Stankorb explained how she became aware of the concept of Christian patriarchy and her years of research on the topic, which her book will encompass.

Another highlight from her talk was Stankorb’s stories of acting on the Wyoming City Council. Among these stories, Stankorb shared the challenges of running and acting on the council, including being far younger than her colleagues and living with a speech impediment which she worried could affect how people viewed her. She also shared many of her many achievements, such as raising 850,000 dollars to make a playground fully accessible to children and parents with disabilities.

Sarah Stankorb’s talk was extremely inspiring, with insights that the Power in Place interns can carry throughout their experiences in politics, in advocacy, and in facing prejudice.

Sylvie Richards is a rising Sophomore at Washington University in St. Louis where she is double majoring in Political Science and Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies. Sylvie is passionate about youth civic engagement, social, reproductive, & racial justice, and LGBTQ+ rights. She is Senior Forum Editor of Student Life, WashU’s newspaper, and Action Council and Social Media Co-Chair of WashU’s Planned Parenthood Generation Action. In her free time, she likes to read, bake cookies, and listen to music.