A woman's place is in the resistance

Nine ways experts say women can fight back in an autocracy and win

Woman power

is

Black power

is

Human power

is

always feeling

my heart beats

as my eyes open

as my hands move

as my mouth speaks

I am

are you

Ready.

— Now by Audre Lorde

After the mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, I knew what to do. I knew I needed to create a Facebook page where women could congregate and mobilize to fight back against the gun industry.

After Donald Trump was elected in 2016, I knew what to do. I joined the resistance and marched and rallied and worked with other volunteers to help prevent him from passing any federal gun legislation for four years.

After Kamala Harris became the presidential candidate for Democrats last July, I knew what to do. I helped organize the largest Zoom in history to raise $11 million for her campaign and then went on the road as a surrogate.

But for the past few months, since Trump’s reelection and amidst the chaos, corruption, and cruelty he’s fomented, I’ve felt like I’m in quicksand. I’ve met with groups of women and contemplated different actions, but each time, I’m stymied and unable to move forward.

This isn’t an issue that demands a specific policy fix. It isn’t a problem that can be solved by fundraising or campaigning. Even our elected leaders are failing to meet the moment. So how do I—or how does any woman, for that matter—stop the slow-moving monster that is autocracy?

To get inspired, I decided to look to the example of women across the world who have fought back against autocracies and won (or at least made a significant dent in autocrats’ agendas) and ask some experts what they think will work.

(I write at length about many of the ideas below in my new book, “Fired Up: How to Turn Your Spark into a Flame and Come Alive at Any Age” out in June. Pre-order now and enroll in Firestarter University starting in the Fall.)

First, it’s important to remember that we didn’t get here overnight, and we won’t save our democracy overnight, either. For decades, the weakening of democratic institutions has led to a rise in global populism. Economic inequality and increasing polarization have destabilized democracies and fueled support for populist leaders. Mainstream political parties have often failed to meet voters’ expectations and needs, creating openings for autocratic leaders. And once in power, those leaders’ agendas further weaken checks and balances and erode democracy.

This vicious circle is often fueled by the patriarchy. By promoting so-called traditional gender roles and family values, autocrats appeal to their most right-wing supporters. This "patriarchal bargain" grants men control in exchange for loyalty. But there’s another important reason autocrats work to reinforce the patriarchy: Women-led movements are more likely to succeed and lead to egalitarian democracies. Autocrats know they have to do everything possible to dampen women's political participation because its women who most often emerge as the most powerful forces in the fight against autocracy.

For example, the Green Wave movement has become a powerful symbol of women's resistance against authoritarianism in Latin America. Initially focused on decriminalizing abortion, the movement has expanded to encompass a broader range of human rights issues. Women donning green bandanas now protest against femicide, environmental destruction, and police brutality. In Brazil, women were crucial in organizing opposition to far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, launching the #EleNão (#NotHim) campaign that garnered millions of supporters and brought together women from diverse backgrounds to challenge misogyny and authoritarianism simultaneously. In Poland during the pandemic, millions of women protested a Constitutional Tribunal ruling that abortion was only legal in cases of rape, incest, or to protect the mother's life. Women rallied in cities and towns across the country, leading to a legal mobilization that weakened the power of the Catholic conservatives who supported abortion restrictions. And in Belarus and Myanmar, women have led nonviolent civil resistance movements against authoritarian power grabs, often at significant personal risk.

Now, in America, autocracy is no longer just a threat but a Trump administration promise. And his plans will specifically and purposefully harm women—especially Black women and women of color. From his executive orders promoting sex discrimination and restricting the rights of transgender people to banning or reducing access to essential healthcare services like abortion, women are in this administration’s crosshairs.

If, like me, you’re feeling overwhelmed or stuck or afraid, and you’re not sure where to start or if you can even make a difference, read the wise words of the experts below—from activists to physicians to lawmakers—about how women, together and alone, can fight back against the Trump administration’s agenda:

A’shanti Gholar, President of Emerge: Focus on the micro, not the macro

“Ask yourself, ‘What are the things that I can control right now when it comes to politics regarding my life and community, and how can I do that in community with other people?’ We must remember it’s not down to one of us; it’s on all of us. You can choose one to three things that you care about, are knowledgeable about, or have experience with. You don’t have to be an expert. Caring makes you an expert. Once you have aligned on the issues you care about, you can plug them into your everyday life. If you go to church, let everyone know you will arrive early or stay after to discuss these topics. If you’re involved in a parent-teacher organization, tell those in attendance that you will be drafting an email template that can be used to contact school board members and other elected officials about how those issues are impacting parents and children. If you’re involved in community social clubs or organizations, plan to send the invite for the next meeting to five people in your network who you know would care about what is being discussed because they or someone they know is being impacted. Organizing efforts don't have to be huge to make positive change. People seek to connect with those they trust to learn from and gather with. You can easily be that person.”

In my experience as an activist, this is exactly right. Focusing on small steps rather than big actions is valuable for several reasons. First, taking small steps helps prevent exhaustion and feeling overwhelmed, common tactics autocrats use to discourage resistance. And, every small step we take represents a victory and tangible proof of progress. These incremental actions are less likely to attract immediate attention from autocrats, allowing resistance movements to grow and strengthen before they’re detected.

Dr.

Annie Andrews

, Don’t Tread on Kids: Find the levers of power you can pull

“Find a new way to get politically active. The system wasn’t designed to make women feel welcome, so we have to change the system. And we each have the power to do that if we get involved. So whether it’s speaking up on social media, engaging in conversations with friends, family members, or neighbors, or showing up at a School Board or City Council meeting, or calling your representatives… just do something. What we did in the past isn’t getting the job done, so it’s time for each of us to try something new, even if it makes us uncomfortable. We are not powerless.”

Women only hold about 25 percent of the 500,000 elected positions in America. We’re less than 5 percent of Fortune 1000 CEOs. We’re not the majority of lawmakers and leaders making the policies that protect ourselves or our communities. However, research shows we do make about 80 percent of the spending decisions for our families, and we make up more than half of the nation’s voting population. We have power, we just have to locate and unleash it.

Kimberly Ellis, JD, Executive Director, San Francisco Department on the Status of Women: Mind your money

“One of the most potent levers we have is our economic power. And in this moment, women need to mind their money. Stop resourcing the opposition. For example, if you haven’t already canceled your Amazon Prime account, giddy up. It’s time to move the (money) ball.”

When I was leading Moms Demand Action, one of the first campaigns we embarked on was a “momcott” of Starbucks to protest the company’s policy allowing open carry inside their stores. Using the hashtag #SkipStarbucksSaturdays and sharing photos of gun extremists open carrying inside Stabucks stores on social media, we were able to get the company to change its policies in a few months. Ultimately, in just under a decade, over 100 retailers and restaurants changed their policies due to our “momcotts.” Similarly, activist Shannon Coulter designed a campaign called #GrabYourWallet after Trump was elected in 2016 to encourage Americans to boycott retailers selling Trump-branded products and offered clear, actionable ways companies could be removed from the boycott list by ceasing business with the Trumps. Within a few months of the campaign's launch, dozens of companies had stopped carrying Trump brand merchandise.

Aimee Allison, founder of She the People: Flex your economic power

“Immediately withdraw support from companies that back Trump, MAGA, and efforts to legalize discrimination. Women—especially women of color—hold immense power over everyday purchases, making most decisions about where to shop and what to buy. When we refuse to spend at retailers, tech and social media platforms, and manufacturers that align with this agenda, we deliver a direct blow to their influence. Eliminating DEI and renaming the Gulf of Mexico are just the opening salvos—these are deliberate choices made by private companies. If we want our opposition to matter, we must reshape our consumer habits now. We have far more power than we realize.”

Economic boycotts are effective when they combine financial pressure, reputational risks, media coverage, and collective action toward clear objectives:

Intentional spending: Women can direct their purchasing power toward women-owned businesses and organizations that support women's rights, which grows the Female Domestic Product (FDP), representing all monies controlled by women.

Entrepreneurship: Start and grow your own businesses to increase your economic influence. Even in autocracies, women-owned businesses can drive economic growth and create jobs.

Investment: Invest in women-led startups, crowdfunding platforms, or investment pools that support women entrepreneurs to help counteract women’s limited access to venture capital.

Rebecca Bauer Kahan, California Assembly Member: Use your voice

“Tell your stories. How are these policies affecting you or your loved ones? Are you an immigrant? Tell that story. Has the federal government helped you through a moment of difficulty by providing them with a healthcare bridge? Are you a crime survivor who has been supported by the DOJ? We need to see and hear the real impacts of these policies. Tell your stories on social media and in real life. Talk to your neighbors and family, and scream it from the rooftops. Don't fight about policy; tell the story. This moment is about the people who will be hurt, and we all have a story.”

Your stories bring the damaging data and dangerous policies of the Trump administration to life. Craft a story you can tell in under a minute and share it online and in real life with everyone who will listen, on social media and beyond.

Reshma Saujani

, founder and CEO of Moms First: Don’t become numb

“My one piece of advice: Don't look away. No matter how attractive it may feel to ‘take a break from politics,’ we have to pay attention to what is happening. That doesn't mean you have to march or protest with your feet or words; sometimes we have to sit, watch and plan. That’s what I’m doing now, planning with deliberation.”

We all have a moral obligation to act given the state of the world. And, as women, acting is a matter of self-preservation. As the saying goes, if you don’t have a seat at the table, you’re probably on the menu. None of us can afford to be silent when someone else is attacked, regardless of who they are in the coalition. We should all do the most courageous thing we can, and we should do it as publicly as we can again and again in the coming years.

Pooja Lakshmin MD

, author of Real Self-Care: But also don’t get overwhelmed

“Honestly, from my point of view, taking care of yourself and your community is the most important thing. Checking in with yourself, emotionally. Checking in with your neighbors, your kids teachers, the people who go to church with you, etc. Showing that you care and that it’s normal to feel out of sorts right now. Building that muscle of taking care of our mental health, knowing when we need a break and when we can do the things (make phone calls, join committees, show up at a protest) is going to be paramount. I know that might sound defeatist because it might sound like retreat but it’s not. It’s actually just as important as the ‘direct’ fighting. Authoritarians win by wearing us out to the point where we tune it all out and believe that everything is pointless. So that means we have to work extra hard to *care* and to care that means you have to be able to feel.”

This fight is going to last months and years, not days or weeks. And after a decade of working on the frontline of gun violence prevention activism, I learned that the only way to stay in the fight longterm was to protect both my mental and physical health. For me, that means meditation, working out, a bath before bed, getting outdoors on weekends, having a hobby, leaning on my support system, sticking to a strict sleep routine, and limiting my exposure to graphic images and stories. Exposing yourself to trauma repeatedly and without safeguards won’t make you more informed or a better activist—it will just make you unwell.

Here are some tips to protect yourself:

Limit your time engaging with the news: Literally set a time if you have to. Give yourself about 30 minutes per day total of social media scrolling and news exposure combined.

Carve out a window for taking in information: Designate times throughout your day when you read the news, but never before bedtime.

Choose the least disturbing form of media: If breaking news affects you negatively, avoid the television. Listen to a podcast instead.

Subscribe to a curated newsletter or podcast: Find one or two that curate and synthesize information in one place so you don’t have to doom scroll.

Amanda Litman, founder of Run for Something: Run for office or help another woman win

Amanda posted on social media: “As of this morning, more than 19,000 people have signed up with Run for Something to consider running for local office just since Election Day; 6,000 of them in the last three weeks. The future of the Democratic Party will not be shaped by think tanks, pollsters, ad makers, or consultants. It will be shaped by people literally running as Dems over the next few years. Rebuilding the party requires broad candidate recruitment for principled authentic leaders.”

In countries like Brazil, the United States, and Poland, attacks on democracy and women's rights have led to a significant increase in women political candidates. Let’s make sure that the outcome of Trump’s presidency is a wave of women running for (and winning) elected office. If you’re fed up with the status quo, shake it up. I’m on the Board of Emerge America, and I’ve seen firsthand that women who are compassionate and concerned make amazing elected officials.

Leah Greenberg, co-founder of Indivisible: Find your community

“Find a local organizing community or gather their friends together to make one, and then do an assessment of your personal context—you’ve got city, state, and federal elected officials: Are you doing everything they can in this moment to fight back? I also think women can organize their own networks; we all have more or less actively political people in our own social and community networks, and right now, there’s a big gap between how alarmed you are if you’re following closely and how alarmed you are if you’re not paying that much attention. Sharing information about what’s actually happening and how it will directly impact your community helps break through that uneven dynamic.”

I started and led a single-issue organization, but the truth is that none of us lead single-issue lives. There are so many organizations galvanizing voters and turning their anger into action right now; my favorite is Indivisible, and I’m sure there’s a chapter near you. Sign up for Indivisible’s educational emails and seminars, attend in-person meetings, and volunteer for a leadership position. There’s strength in numbers.

I know first-hand that women are the secret sauce of activism because even when faced with a powerful adversary, we don’t back down—we double down. Persistence is our superpower. When we pull the levers of power available to us, we can change the culture, candidates, and course of history. From creating mass protests to organizing at the grassroots level, women have been at the forefront of pro-democracy movements across the world, and their courage and determination serve as a beacon of hope and a call to action for those of us who believe in the principles of democracy and human rights.

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My upcoming book, Fired Up: How to Turn Your Spark Into a Flame and Come Alive at Any Age, is now available for preorder! This book is my guide to figuring out what lights you up and will show you how to live on fire every day. Click here to preorder and get locked into some incredible bonuses.