WOMEN'S WAY 2024 General Election Response
Since our founding in the mid-1970s, WOMEN'S WAY has been at the forefront of efforts to advance gender equity in Philadelphia and beyond. Born from the critical need to challenge gender inequities, WOMEN’S WAY has dedicated nearly five decades to empowering women, girls, and gender-oppressed people to build a world that offers security, dignity, and opportunity for all. Our Chief Disruptor, Diane Cornman-Levy, responds to the 2024 general election results, underscoring the deeply entrenched barriers that we face and the work that remains to achieve gender equity:
In a nation that prides itself on opportunity—where generations of young girls have been told they can be anything they aspire to—the presidency has, for too long, symbolized an unbreakable ceiling. Today, after 46 presidencies and almost 250 years, we are reminded once again of the deeply entrenched systems that shape our institutions and dictate who is deemed “fit” to lead.
After a divisive, racist, misogynistic, and hate-filled election cycle, this past year has put a spotlight on our country’s harmful narratives and policies. Our current political landscape, as reflected in Project 2025 and other initiatives aimed at rolling back rights, reveals that a significant number of Americans are 1) still resistant to seeing a woman, especially a woman of color, in the highest office and 2) calling for policies that counter ideals of equity.
These include:
- Limiting reproductive rights and penalizing unmarried women
- Attacking protections against sex discrimination and advancing gender-based inequity
- Undermining LGBTQIA+ rights
- Dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and racial justice measures
- Reducing access to and investments in anti-poverty programs by prioritizing the interests of the wealthy over the needs of low-income families, who are disproportionately led by women
Elections are just one tool in the broader fight and we cannot emphasize enough the urgent need for our collective action. Now, more than ever, we must work to support, empower, and amplify the voices of women, girls, and gender-oppressed people. At WOMEN’S WAY, we will not retreat. We will not be controlled by fear. We will push hard and continue to speak up for gender equity and justice.
We are as committed as ever to press forward until:
- A different cultural narrative grounded in the wisdom and lived experiences of marginalized genders takes hold in communities, organizations, and in the halls of power.
- Alternative community wealth-building models grow and proliferate, providing new avenues for transforming economic conditions.
- Women and gender-oppressed people’s collective power is increased to make systemic, transformative change.
At WOMEN'S WAY, we believe true transformation comes from building collective power that disrupts oppressive systems and advances alternative models rooted in love, dignity, and liberation. The road ahead will not be easy, but together, we will keep fighting for a world where everyone–especially those historically impacted by gender inequities–has security, dignity, freedom, and joy.
We urge everyone to take the time that you need to reflect and invest in your health and well-being, but then we must stay connected, stay engaged, and continue building the future we believe in.
