Women’s Rights and Trump’s Second Term
I have been putting my head in the sand since November 6th, arguably protecting my own central nervous system. It is almost as if by not acknowledging or listening to the news, it wasn’t going to happen. Like many of you, I have people in my sphere who continuously support Ding Dong (yes, that is what I call our next president—childish, yet it helps me). While I strive to let all opinions in, it can be very difficult. This month’s conversation is about how we can best arm ourselves for the incoming president ahead of Inauguration Day.
Let’s talk about how we hold onto our agency, regardless of who is in office. Like many of you, November 6th was a dark day—a test of resilience, healing, and growth. In my last post, I shared how it felt like a death of sorts: the death of hope, the death of a nation, the death of a better future. But as time has passed, that sense of loss has transformed into an important call to action. I’ve spent a great deal of time talking to friends, guides, coaches, family, and others (on both sides of the aisle). One resounding sentiment has emerged: despite who occupies the Oval Office and the company they keep, we must never lose our power or forget what we are rooted in.
As a woman, aunt to many, bonus mom to some, and friend to countless others, I am nervous about what this next administration’s impact will be on women. I’ve been called “brainwashed” by a childhood friend—a man who may be just one podcast short of fascism himself. If it weren’t such a dangerous mindset, I might brush it off as “his journey, not mine.” But after blocking him from my social media feed, I’ve gained clarity on the work ahead.
For those who think we are being emotional, unreasonable, or unhinged, let’s examine what Donald Trump’s first administration (2017–2021) meant for women’s rights. These changes weren’t just policy shifts—they were deliberate moves that curtailed autonomy and access to critical resources, signaling the need for vigilance as we face the second Trump term. Here are some key actions and their implications:
Reproductive Rights
Global Gag Rule: Trump reinstated and expanded the "Mexico City Policy," blocking U.S. funding to international organizations that provide, promote, or even discuss abortion services, even with non-U.S. funds.
Title X Restrictions: His administration implemented changes to Title X, a federal family planning program, effectively cutting funding to organizations like Planned Parenthood that provide or refer patients for abortions.
Judicial Appointments: Trump appointed three Supreme Court justices—Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett—shifting the Court’s balance to the right. This paved the way for Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022), which overturned Roe v. Wade after Trump left office but was influenced by his appointments.
Birth Control Access: Trump’s expanded exemptions for employers to deny contraceptive coverage based on religious or moral objections stripped millions of affordable healthcare access.
Workplace Equality
Equal Pay: The Trump administration rolled back an Obama-era rule requiring companies to report pay data by race and gender, which aimed to address the gender wage gap.
Sexual Harassment: While Trump signed bipartisan legislation to address workplace sexual harassment, his administration faced criticism for dismissing accusations of harassment and for his own comments and behavior regarding women.
Healthcare
Affordable Care Act (ACA): Trump attempted to repeal the ACA, which included provisions ensuring maternity care, contraception coverage, and protections against gender-based discrimination in healthcare.
Violence Against Women
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA): The reauthorization of VAWA stalled during Trump’s presidency due to disagreements over provisions like protections for transgender women and expanded firearm restrictions for domestic abusers.
Immigration and Women
Family Separation Policy: The administration’s "zero-tolerance" immigration policy led to the separation of thousands of families at the U.S.-Mexico border, disproportionately impacting migrant women and children.
Asylum Restrictions: New policies made it harder for women fleeing gender-based violence, such as domestic abuse or gang violence, to seek asylum in the U.S.
In contrast, the Biden administration has made notable strides in advancing women’s rights, focusing on equity, healthcare, and workplace protections:
Title X Funding: Restored federal funding to providers offering comprehensive family planning services, including Planned Parenthood.
Maternal Health: Expanded Medicaid postpartum care to address the maternal health crisis.
Title IX Protections: Proposed new regulations to reverse Trump-era rollbacks and expanded protections to include sexual orientation and gender identity.
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA): Successfully reauthorized with expanded provisions to protect Indigenous and LGBTQ+ survivors and limit firearm access for domestic abusers.
While significant progress has been made, gaps remain—especially in codifying reproductive rights and achieving comprehensive paid leave. These actions underscore the importance of sustained vigilance and advocacy to ensure women’s rights remain at the forefront of national priorities.
So where does that leave us? For those of us who want to build a better and safer world for our nieces, nephews, daughters, and granddaughters, now is the time for action. As we approach a second Trump administration term, the lessons of his first term serve as a rallying cry: we cannot yield our power. Vigilance is key to protecting the progress made and resisting further attempts to undermine the rights of women to learn, live, and thrive free of discrimination or limitation. Advocacy, solidarity, and action will be our greatest tools in the fight to preserve autonomy and ensure a future where women’s rights are non-negotiable. Here are our collective tools of action (take what resonates with you):
Education
Educating ourselves and those around us is the single biggest power we have. There is a reason why countries with platforms based on the degradation of women prohibit young girls from getting an education. Knowledge is truly power. Read books. Listen to podcasts. Provide access to education for girls and women who struggle to get it. Volunteer in schools. Advocate for female minds, both young and old.
Empowerment
My business is built on empowering women. While I target women in the outdoor industry, I am unapologetically in the corner of all women. I use my voice and power to elevate those who need a lift and to speak in spaces historically void of female representation. Find your own ways to empower those around you. Hire young women that want to get their foot in the door of the field of their choosing. Help women draft their resumes and cover letters. Provide resources and environments where they can choose their own path. In summary, remove any blocks that may be limiting women from succeeding on their own terms.
Organize
Organization may seem daunting, but it can be as simple as starting a ladies' night locally or writing a post like this one. It could mean joining a protest or a march. Those who disagree with us count on disorganization and chaos—resist it with discipline and resilience.
Connect
YOU are not alone. Finding connections as we educate, empower, and organize is critical. The future we all seek may start with a potluck dinner in your community or a book club discussing local or national issues. Community connections are part of our unbreakable foundation.
Get Tough
Tough doesn’t have to be harsh. In yoga, there’s a phrase: “Strong back, soft heart.” This means building endurance for ourselves to carry the weight of others’ burdens while keeping an open heart. Being tough enough to withstand the rhetoric without closing ourselves off from others takes practice. Ground yourself in who you are and what you represent.
To my readers, clients, friends, and family: this post may be the direst I have written to date. Much of my time has been focused on healing from unfathomable grief, growing as I do extraordinarily hard things, and sharing the beauty of being present with Annie, Kevin’s daughter as we drove across country. But in my bones, I felt it was important to flex into this space of preparing for the unknown. Together, we will rise. We are the hope that we seek.
With love and strength,
Dana
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