Only one-third of Americans think that 2025 a good time to be a woman, according to a 2024 Georgetown University study. In light of the recent presidential election, and the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, Campbell Hall student advocates weigh their fears and hopes for the future of women’s rights
Since Kindergarten, Gigi Johnson ‘27 has been educated about politics, whether it was listening to her parents, or later on educating herself about world issues. Johnson believes that over time women’s rights become neglected in our society. In 2022, Campbell Hall held an abortion rights protest, where students from grades 7-12 were able to use their voices to make a change. Johnson was able to participate in this protest where she discovered how much women’s rights means to her, and that, as a young woman, abortion rights affect her future. During the protest, faculty encouraged students to return back to class, but Johnson realized that this issue held a very deep meaning to her. This made her want to continue to stand outside school, advocate about her rights as a woman.
“I felt like it was really important to me to keep being loud and [advocating] for what I felt was right.” Johnson said. “By speaking up for [women’s rights] I think government officials will start to acknowledge people continuing to fight for these issues, instead of giving up or getting tired.”
After the presidential election in November, Shae Davidson ‘27 grew especially
concerned for the future of women’s rights. She advocates for women’s freedoms through protests and represents her peers as leader of the Women’s affinity group. She believes that Gen-Z is very passionate about women’s rights, and was disappointed that their opinions can’t be taken into consideration yet.
“This was the first election that I actually was thinking about, caring about and doing some research about,” Davidson said. “I’m ready for the time to come because I want to be able to have a say on what goes on in our country.”
On July 21 2024, President Biden withdrew his bid in his reelection of the presidential election. This led to Kamala Harris stepping up, and entering the election 107 days late. By having to build her campaign much later than her opponents, she had to quickly gather voices and present her ideas efficiently, as there were only a few months until the election. However, she continued to speak in front of thousands of people, and put all her effort into her campaign. Harris’ rallies consisted of a younger generation, where she incorporated modern day music artists to help build her audience, some, including Taylor Swift and Beyoncé. By Harris including modern day public figures she was able to reach a younger audience, and by this she hoped to have encouraged women and men country wide about the importance of women’s rights and abortion rights.
Although Harris ended up losing the election by eighty six million votes, Johnson felt that her impact was sustained throughout the people she inspired. Johnson was touched by Harris’ tenacity to continue to fight for women, and be a voice to the women who are silenced. Johnson is a supporter of Harris’ campaign and all the womens rights issues she stands for, so the loss was very heartbreaking. However, Harris’ loss kept a motivation in Johnson to not stay quiet and never give up, because she realized that if Harris was able to stay motivated through a tough election process, she can, too, continue to stand up for women’s rights.
“As a young girl it was really inspiring to see Hilary Clinton run for president, so having [Kamala] in the race [this election] was definitely really inspiring,” Johnson said. “[Although Harris lost], I think people will definitely keep fighting, especially after Kamala’s commencement speech, [conveying the message] that the only way we can change things or make it better is by fighting and not being quiet.”
Davidson is most passionate about advocating for abortion rights and female healthcare. She believes that a woman’s right to choose, voice her opinions and have bodily autonomy is a human right, and that the outcome of the recent election threatens those rights. Davidson acknowledges that women’s rights have come far in the past 50 years, yet the next four years may be viewed as a setback for the women’s rights movement. But, she is optimistic for the time when she is old enough to vote, and hopefully can make progress for women’s rights, specifically regarding reproductive freedoms.
“In these next four years, I don’t know if we’re gonna get anywhere quite yet,” Davidson said. “But, I’m hoping that in the next election, more of our generation and people my age will be able to vote. [Many] of us have similar mindsets and thoughts of how women’s rights should be [protected], so I think it’s [going to] be beneficial in the future. It’s just hoping and praying until then.”
