My close friends and I took our then young sons to a local women’s march in 2017, with signs and strollers and my youngest in an ergo. I didn’t keep attending protests then but I didn’t even consider it this time. In retrospect, a lot of that pink pussy hat energy was performative but did it help? Idk. I do feel an intense desire to help protect vulnerable folks from what is coming, but I don’t think mass protest is the move in 2025.
My oldest daughter was an infant in 2016 when Trump was first elected. I was out there at several protests with her in the baby carrier. I think it's true that parenthood and motherhood, specifically increases your desire for rootedness, which can pull you away from certain types of activism. But I also think that the protests were a specific cultural moment and one that looking back doesn't feel particularly effective. Am I less engaged in activism than I was before kids, not really, simply because medical training had me starting out more self-involved than I'm proud to admit. As a mother, I feel a lot more committed to the local, to my watershed, to the people whose houses I can bike to. It's different than driving over to Minneapolis, but in these times of falling apart I hope it is more effective.
Hi Mara. I was probably shoulder to shoulder with you at a lot of these demonstrations/marches, especially here in Philly. I have three women in my nuclear family to lend me street cred for the Women's events, and canvassed for Obama and Harris in Philly.
I do worry that we are all worn out with the massive world wide tide that is drifting away from democracy, protest, and freedom. But two weird ideas keep me going:
Life on Earth is still much easier than life on Mars
The Empire must strike back before the Jedi can return.
Here's to being on the same proverbial side as Yoda :)
I cannot speak directly to the question about activism being a parent, but I do wonder if in those years, you were doing the work you're doing on this substance to educate folks about and create a forum for discussing the intersection of social equity with health care? Perhaps your gifts and efforts have evolved from protesting into other forms of action that are (as a reader who values your work!) just as vitally important if not moreso. I am a big believer that none of us should carry the world on our shoulders (that's what community is all about), so I try to think about the best ways I can bring my gifts and skills and passions into action towards social justice - and where my efforts will have the biggest impact. And for me, that is largely not protests.
I have experienced the elections of Donald Trump in lockstep with what you described. Interestingly, though, I am at the other end of kids at home, with both of my daughters 1-2 years out of the house, and yet, I too didn’t attend the women’s march (as I did before multiple times), and I seldom talk politics at work (although I live in Seattle, so there is very little disagreement, just a general understanding that we have to put our noses down and get through the next four years). Which leaves me thinking… How do we do this, and make a difference? I think limiting my newsfeed is to some degree self-preservation and also not wanting to give Trump and his team the satisfaction of my constant fury, incredulity, and helplessness. I have talked with friends about starting a group where we gather and share what we’re doing to make a difference in the world (and laugh and visit and build connection). I just need to create space for hope. Otherwise the overwhelmingness of the bad is just that: overwhelming.
My close friends and I took our then young sons to a local women’s march in 2017, with signs and strollers and my youngest in an ergo. I didn’t keep attending protests then but I didn’t even consider it this time. In retrospect, a lot of that pink pussy hat energy was performative but did it help? Idk. I do feel an intense desire to help protect vulnerable folks from what is coming, but I don’t think mass protest is the move in 2025.
Adding your book rec to my list.
Totally agree..I think the performance helped build community. But it has limits.
My oldest daughter was an infant in 2016 when Trump was first elected. I was out there at several protests with her in the baby carrier. I think it's true that parenthood and motherhood, specifically increases your desire for rootedness, which can pull you away from certain types of activism. But I also think that the protests were a specific cultural moment and one that looking back doesn't feel particularly effective. Am I less engaged in activism than I was before kids, not really, simply because medical training had me starting out more self-involved than I'm proud to admit. As a mother, I feel a lot more committed to the local, to my watershed, to the people whose houses I can bike to. It's different than driving over to Minneapolis, but in these times of falling apart I hope it is more effective.
Thank you for sharing this! Sending love and solidarity <3
Hi Mara. I was probably shoulder to shoulder with you at a lot of these demonstrations/marches, especially here in Philly. I have three women in my nuclear family to lend me street cred for the Women's events, and canvassed for Obama and Harris in Philly.
I do worry that we are all worn out with the massive world wide tide that is drifting away from democracy, protest, and freedom. But two weird ideas keep me going:
Life on Earth is still much easier than life on Mars
The Empire must strike back before the Jedi can return.
Here's to being on the same proverbial side as Yoda :)
Love this, Ryan. Thank you ❤️
I cannot speak directly to the question about activism being a parent, but I do wonder if in those years, you were doing the work you're doing on this substance to educate folks about and create a forum for discussing the intersection of social equity with health care? Perhaps your gifts and efforts have evolved from protesting into other forms of action that are (as a reader who values your work!) just as vitally important if not moreso. I am a big believer that none of us should carry the world on our shoulders (that's what community is all about), so I try to think about the best ways I can bring my gifts and skills and passions into action towards social justice - and where my efforts will have the biggest impact. And for me, that is largely not protests.
I have experienced the elections of Donald Trump in lockstep with what you described. Interestingly, though, I am at the other end of kids at home, with both of my daughters 1-2 years out of the house, and yet, I too didn’t attend the women’s march (as I did before multiple times), and I seldom talk politics at work (although I live in Seattle, so there is very little disagreement, just a general understanding that we have to put our noses down and get through the next four years). Which leaves me thinking… How do we do this, and make a difference? I think limiting my newsfeed is to some degree self-preservation and also not wanting to give Trump and his team the satisfaction of my constant fury, incredulity, and helplessness. I have talked with friends about starting a group where we gather and share what we’re doing to make a difference in the world (and laugh and visit and build connection). I just need to create space for hope. Otherwise the overwhelmingness of the bad is just that: overwhelming.
Absolutely. So much to think about. Thanks for sharing..