Women’s Integral Role in the U.S. Pro-Democracy Movement
The day after Donald Trump was inaugurated as the President of the United States on January 21, 2017, a historic wave of protests emerged. Hundreds of thousands of women took to the streets of Washington, D.C., and across the nation to express their discontent with his election. The defeat of Hillary Clinton, the first female candidate from a major political party, to a man notorious for his misogynistic behavior became a pivotal moment for many. What began as a single woman’s call to action on social media quickly transformed into a national movement, rallying over 400 organizations and attracting more than 2 million participants globally. The Women’s March stood as a powerful symbol of resistance against the Trump administration and marked the onset of intensified political activism.
Trump’s election served as a wake-up call for numerous Americans who had previously believed in the robustness of the nation’s democratic institutions. In the subsequent years, signs of democratic distress have become increasingly evident. A significant faction within the Republican Party now challenges the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election and seeks to consolidate power through voter suppression and manipulation of election oversight. This shift towards extremism is rooted in long-standing structural and institutional issues, including growing political polarization and institutional biases favoring minority interests. Nevertheless, rising threats to democracy have inspired innovative actions to safeguard democratic institutions, particularly during the Trump presidency and in the wake of the 2020 election and the events of January 6, 2021.
Women across the globe have often led these pro-democracy movements, motivated by intersecting attacks on democracy and women’s rights, as well as broader principles of equality. This article delves into the diverse contributions of women to the evolving U.S. democracy movement, showcasing significant trends. First, women are central to pro-democracy mobilization at various levels: as grassroots organizers, voters leaning Democratic, and leaders in advocacy organizations. Their participation, however, reflects a complex interplay of partisan and ethnic identities amidst overarching polarization. Notably, white women have played crucial roles in grassroots organization within both liberal and illiberal networks. Second, the inclusion of women’s rights, especially reproductive rights, remains a contentious issue within the fight for democracy. While heightened attacks on reproductive rights have galvanized women and their organizations to advocate for democracy, they have also highlighted strategic divides within the pro-democracy movement. Lastly, women politicians and election officials who champion democracy frequently encounter disproportionate harassment and targeted attacks due to their gender.
Women’s Engagement in the Pro-Democracy Movement
Historically, significant popular mobilization focused on defending democracy in the United States faded after the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. Although there were ongoing efforts for voting rights and institutional reforms, these were predominantly led by professional organizations rather than mass participation groups.
The political landscape transformed dramatically following Trump’s election in 2016. His administration ignited a surge in grassroots activism, with over 60,000 demonstrations recorded during his time in office. These protests often addressed issues like racism, immigration, and gun violence, but many also explicitly critiqued threats to democracy and spurred efforts to unseat Trump at the ballot box. Additionally, numerous new organizations emerged post-2016 and 2020 to confront democratic vulnerabilities such as election interference and political violence, intensifying collaboration between these newer entities and traditional organizations like the NAACP. Maria Stephan, chief organizer at the Horizons Project, noted that 2020 served as a catalyst for a collective urgency among pro-democracy advocates that transcends single-issue focuses.
What stands out in these new mobilizations is the pivotal role women occupy at multiple levels: as grassroots activists and protesters, as legal advocates and election officials, and as voters. The 2016 women’s marches were a clear indication of this trend. In their wake, thousands of loosely organized, women-led volunteer networks emerged nationwide, leveraging the online bonds forged during the marches. Following guides from the Indivisible movement, these groups mobilized to help Democrats regain control of the House of Representatives in 2018, encourage first-time women candidates to run for office, and protect healthcare reforms initiated during Barack Obama’s presidency. These networks maintained a distinct identity, often framing their efforts as a defense of American democracy rather than merely extensions of the Democratic Party. Their effectiveness was evident in the 2018 midterm elections when Democratic candidates reclaimed the House, weakening Trump’s political support, and saw record numbers of women candidates winning office, bolstered by grassroots and established groups like Emily’s List.
Beyond grassroots activism, women occupy key leadership positions within organizations dedicated to democratic renewal. Prominent initiatives such as the States United Democracy Center, Election Trust Initiative, and Common Cause are led by women. Influential lawyers like Roberta Kaplan and Stacey Abrams have been instrumental in opposing Trump’s policies. Women are also active in organizing within religious communities, challenging illiberal ideologies while over 80% of election workers are women. Though they may not identify explicitly as democracy activists, these women are directly involved in the ongoing battles over democratic integrity.
Women have emerged as a significant electoral force opposing Trump and other MAGA-affiliated candidates. Historically, women in the U.S. have voted at higher rates than men and identified more closely with Democratic values, especially among Black women, who constitute a loyal Democratic voting base. The gender gap widened during Trump’s presidency, with women notably favoring Clinton over Trump in 2016 by 13 percentage points and Democrats by 19 points in 2018. While support for Trump among women slightly increased in 2020 to 42%, this trend shifted again in 2022, as issues surrounding abortion rights mobilized many women against Republican candidates. Women not only outvoted men, but a significant 53% supported Democratic candidates, with this support even stronger in highly contested races. While voting for Democrats does not inherently equate to pro-democracy activism, women’s choices consistently exhibited a moderating influence in a political context characterized by attacks on democracy primarily coming from extremist Republican factions.
However, the dynamics of women’s involvement in pro-democracy mobilization are informed by a complex web of identities encompassing race, partisanship, and educational backgrounds. For many women of color, the current erosion of democratic values reflects not a new phenomenon but rather a resurgence of enduring ethnonationalist and illiberal elements in American politics. Historically, Black women have fought for voting rights and opposed White supremacist violence, acting as pivotal “bridge leaders” within the civil rights movement. Today, they are among the most active voting blocs and play crucial roles in progressive politics and voting rights advocacy, significantly influencing voter turnout despite ongoing challenges to their electoral rights.
Conversely, for many White women, Trump’s election sparked a newfound political engagement. The grassroots resistance groups formed post-election were predominantly led by suburban, college-educated White women, many of whom had previously been less politically active but felt compelled to act in defense of democracy. Yet, White women remain deeply divided along partisan lines, which also informs their electoral preferences. While their support for Democrats has increased since 2018, many conservative White women continue to support Trump. Furthermore, White women without college degrees have often aligned with election fraud narratives. Grassroots networks, such as Moms for Liberty, alongside individual activists like Marjorie Taylor Greene, illustrate that women are impactful organizers across the political spectrum.
Reproductive Rights and Strategic Divisions
The recent uptick in women’s activism for democracy is closely linked to rising assaults on women’s and reproductive rights. The Trump era was marked by misogynistic rhetoric, which resonated with many voters and rallied support among extremist groups. Legislative and judicial actions seeking to undermine reproductive rights peaked in 2021 with the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, a landmark case that guaranteed the right to abortion. This shift mirrored patterns of minority control within U.S. politics, as the ruling was issued by a court significantly appointed by presidents who lost the popular vote, reflecting a disconnect with national sentiments.
Several states enacting voting restrictions have simultaneously advanced regressive anti-abortion laws. For instance, Ohio attempted to raise the vote threshold for constitutional amendments in a bid to obstruct efforts to secure reproductive rights in the state’s constitution. Similar patterns appear across various Republican-led states, which are simultaneously constraining political participation and pushing for strict abortion measures. Anti-abortion organizations have increasingly intertwined their lobbying efforts with voting restrictions and strengthened ties with White Christian nationalist movements.
Traditionally, U.S. women’s rights groups have viewed bodily autonomy as integral to women’s political equality. However, many have began rethinking their strategies in response to the prevailing political climate. They are increasingly recognizing that robust democratic processes are essential to advancing their objectives. In Ohio, for example, women’s rights advocates collaborated with democracy organizations to rally support for a ballot initiative focused on reproductive rights, underscoring the significance of mobilizing against voting restrictions. As a result, Ohioans successfully rejected efforts to escalate the threshold for constitutional amendments and enshrined abortion rights in their state constitution in November 2023.
Despite these collaborative efforts at the state level, the broader pro-democracy movement grapples with divisions on contentious social issues, including reproductive rights. Some activists argue that backlash against women’s rights and other minority rights presents critical avenues for authoritarian groups to consolidate power, urging an integrated approach to pro-democracy efforts that transcends singular issue-focused activism. Others, however, advocate for a moderate coalition that emphasizes narrowly defined democracy defenses, prioritizing the protection of voting rights and fair elections while setting divisive social matters aside. They believe that restoring institutional integrity will enable more holistic discussions on contentious issues.
Ultimately, among divergent perspectives within the pro-democracy movement, there is a shared commitment to defeating authoritarian candidates and preserving democratic norms. However, underlying these urgent priorities are contrasting visions for the way forward: some seek to repair and stabilize the political center, while others advocate for more profound challenges to exclusionary power structures and prevailing ideologies fueling authoritarianism, recognizing that eliminating systemic injustices may necessitate confrontational advocacy for meaningful social change.
Experiencing Gender-Based Violence and Counter-Activism
Amid growing political polarization, advocates for democracy face escalating counter-mobilization efforts from illiberal actors, including right-wing extremists and radicalized citizens. Organizations like True the Vote promote election fraud narratives, and extremist groups are collaborating with local law enforcement to exert control over upcoming elections. Alarmingly, incidents of political violence associated with far-right groups have surged, driven by hostile rhetoric in media and political circles.
Such violence is steeped in gender dynamics, with hostility towards women amplifying the threat of political violence. Studies indicate that individuals with extreme sexist beliefs are more prone to sanctioning political violence. Women engaged in activism, particularly those involved in electoral processes, face disproportionate targeting. Castle and local election workers, who are predominantly women, are often at the receiving end of threats and harassment, emphasizing the gendered nature of this violence. A 2023 survey revealed that nearly one-third of election officials reported experiencing harassment or threats, primarily from men affiliated with extremist ideologies.
Women in political leadership positions are also increasingly threatened as they confront challenges from election deniers and extremist movements. While intimidation affects all politicians, research suggests women and underrepresented individuals experience these threats at disproportionately higher rates. Findings indicate that a larger percentage of women officials have faced both physical violence and harassment compared to their male counterparts.
Notably, though many extremist groups are predominantly male, women also occupy influential roles within far-right movements. For instance, Moms for Liberty has emerged as a formidable force opposing progressive policies in education while forming alliances with extremist networks. Members often portray themselves as nurturing mothers advocating for their children, yet their activities often involve aggressive opposition towards educators and community leaders. Additionally, social media has become a platform for women to amplify extreme right-wing perspectives, making such ideologies more relatable to broader audiences through gendered narratives.
Conclusion
Women are indispensable in advancing pro-democracy efforts in the United States, characterized by their roles as grassroots organizers, advocates, voters, and election workers. Yet, understanding their political engagement requires an intersectional analysis. For many White, suburban, and educated women, the Trump administration ignited a newfound commitment to defending both democracy and progressive advancements. Conversely, women of color have historically mobilized for rights, seeing contemporary challenges as part of a continuum of long-existing struggles.
The ongoing contestation over women’s rights, particularly regarding reproductive freedom, underscores the interconnectedness of democratic and gender issues. The anti-democratic rhetoric and actions targeting women’s rights have heightened awareness and engagement among women voters. As these intersecting issues increasingly entwine, new coalitions are forming between those advocating for democracy and reproductive rights. However, tensions remain over how to engage with divisive topics, with some prioritizing a focus on institutional integrity while others emphasize a more expansive approach that includes social justice alongside democratic renewal.
As the U.S. gears up for the next presidential election, overcoming authoritarian tendencies and mitigating political violence is of utmost importance. Yet, combating ingrained illiberal currents in American politics will require sustained activism beyond November 2024.
