ISABEL MARZULLO: FEATURES EDITOR
Photo from Wikimedia Commons
As we’re now a week out from election night, the news of Trump’s win has had time to settle. Some individuals radiate happiness that their candidate won, while others sit horror-struck, unsure of what comes next. For many of us, particularly women, the implications for our rights and freedoms are deeply concerning.
“I wish I had better news for my daughter this morning,” said MSNBC host Jen Psaki. “I wish I could’ve called her and told her the first woman president was just elected, but I can’t.”
So many young girls and women cling to the desire of witnessing a female become president and now, after this election, I and many others will mournfully continue to chase that dream.
I surrounded myself with used tissues and lost hope that morning. I wept for Harris, who raised a respectable fight for a country that wasn’t ready for her. I wept for the individuals who now must worry they’ll be deported, for the LGBTQ+ community and for the women who’ll have no rights to their bodies.
As a journalist interested in politics, I ruminate about what Trump’s win may signify for my profession. Will I ever truly have a voice? Or will I become censored if I oppose? As a woman, I worry for my safety — if Trump follows through, my rights to bodily autonomy will be slashed. I also imagine the massive to-do list everyone opposed to Trump was handed: a list to ensure our voices are heard and we don’t admit defeat. Tom Nichols, a former Republican, recently said in a piece for The Atlantic.
“Democracy doesn’t fall in a day.”
It’s an admirable quote that rings true. No matter how despaired we may feel, we still have our voices, politicians and activists who’ll move mountains to fight for our country and dignity.
We must remain gentle with ourselves during these next few months as numerous emotions will be felt — and that’s okay. It’s okay to be sad, angry and scared. It’s okay not to know what comes next. We will stand together and get through this together. Yet, it’s not wrong if you’re considering moving states or out of the country, stocking up on Plan B and mifepristone, or even saving for medical needs due to the health insurance that will be ripped from individual hands.
Women across the country have been claiming the 4B movement, a feminist movement that originated in South Korea. 4B followers refuse to date, marry, have sex or have children. Several women have also claimed abstinence since it’s too dangerous and no longer worth the risk.
As I consider all the changes citizens must make, I grapple with the reality of who we are as a country. I’m puzzled by how we allowed our nation to fall so far and I’m sure we could count everything we should’ve done differently; however, none of that matters.
marzulig22@bonaventure.edu
