Second National Women’s March Draws Exonians

Exonians joined the seas of pink-hatted protesters for the second annual Women’s March this Saturday, Jan. 20. Marching with the ranks of millions across the globe, students took to the streets to advocate for legislation protecting the human rights of different marginalized groups, including women, workers, immigrants and members of the LGBTQ+ community. The message resonated across the globe, with each empowering speech earning cries of fervent resistance, each demonstration inspiring change and each sign rallying a call to action.

According to organizers, the movement’s mission is “to harness the political power of diverse women and their communities to create transformative social change.” The first march took place last year on Jan. 21 after Trump’s inauguration and gained publicity for its expansive reach across America and around the world.

Several students felt compelled to show their support, regardless of personal cost, and arranged private accomodations or traveled by train to various locations where a march was taking place. “High school is the perfect opportunity to speak up for what you believe in and participate in important movements,” lower Addie Graham said. “2016 and 2017 have been really packed years, and I wanted to take advantage of that.”

“High school is the perfect opportunity to speak up for what you believe in and participate in important movements.”

Many expressed similar sentiments. Lower Tien Duong, an international student from Vietnam, explained that her own childhood experiences of gender inequality inspired her passion for feminism and her determination to join the march. “I saw growing up how unequal my opportunities were because I was a girl. I was in an environment where there was a specific female role I was expected to conform to; this happens at Exeter as well,” she said. “It was just an issue I needed to address.”

Participants described the lively energy harnessed by thousands of their fellow marchers as “passionate” and “empowering.” “The speakers rallied up the crowd, and every time they said something especially powerful, you heard this giant cheer of all the men and women in the crowd,” Graham recalled. “It was a really great demonstration of the millions of women across America and the world who aren’t settling for injustice. It felt great to be a part of it.”

Upper Isadora Kron, a co-head of Exeter’s Feminist Union, recognized that certain areas of the movement’s organization and execution, however, needed improvement. “Though the march is an important symbol of our resiliency and ongoing efforts to make America fair, there are some issues pertaining to inclusion, especially for women of color and trans women,” she commented. “The group of speakers isn’t always diverse and the space could be made more accessible. These are difficult issues to solve, but the first step is to acknowledge the issue itself and promote discussion on ways to solve it.”

Many Exonians similarly acknowledged a lack of diversity in the political spectrum represented by the march’s participants. Senior Nick Song attributed this to the fact that many feminist issues, such as reproductive rights, have commonly been associated with more liberal views. Preps Ella Sudduth and Annie Smaldone felt similarly, noting how the March for Life, a movement protesting the practice and legality of abortion, had taken place on the same day in Washington, D.C.

Kron nevertheless emphasized that the fundamental principles of the Women’s March were not intended to be political. “Our mission is equality, not necessarily the impeachment of Donald Trump,” she said. “Feminism is the fight for equality between the sexes. It’s a fight everyone should support.”