Why “Speaking Up” is Never Enough

Photo: Maryam Sama, age 29, Member of Parliament, Afghanistan

September 6, 2021

What do the Taliban’s resurgence in Afghanistan and the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to let stand a draconian Texas abortion ban have in common? They remind women that in the blink of an eye, our freedoms can be taken away. And there is one simple reason why.

Think about 1920, when women fought valiantly and spoke eloquently in this country for the right to vote. In the end, the right to vote was not “won” by women, but rather granted by an all-male (and all-white) Congress, which was the body that actually had the power to pass the 19th Amendment. In a different place and time—Afghanistan in 2002—women gained the ability to go to school, and work, and join the government, thanks to international pressure and the presence of the American military.

On the one hand these are exciting example of how “allies” can help women advance by acting with women’s interests in mind. On the other hand, when that support is withdrawn, for whatever reason, it exposes a fundamental lack of power for women. In Afghanistan, the terrifying consequence of that withdrawal is becoming apparent. In 1920’s America, the lack of real conviction from that all-male, all-white Congress resulted in African-American and other women continuing to be denied the right to vote despite the 19th Amendment.

What’s the solution? There’s only one: Women have to start being the ones who make the decisions about women’s lives.

And so while my friends Pat Mitchell and Eve Ensler plan marches in the streets for Afghan women’s rights, and pro-choice protests are sure to accelerate, I encourage you to do more than raise your voice. I urge you to learn how to navigate the “male power game” so that you can advance into a position of true decision-making power.

This is an incredibly exciting time for women in this country. Never before has there been as much momentum toward the goal of gender equity in the workplace. Never before have little girls heard popular culture tell them that they can. Let’s embrace this moment, and remember that speaking up is essential, but it’s not enough. In order to actually make the decisions that affect women’s public and private lives, women must lead.