Hi John,

My high-school history class consisted of Mr. Schmidt—a timid, turtleneck-wearing man—putting on “poignant,” “historical” movies, before indulging in his mid-afternoon nap.

I didn’t learn much about history, but since most poignancy is R-rated, you could say I got a lesson in “life.”

Sadly, our entire world has also taken a long, misogynistic nap—with researchers estimating that women's stories make up just 0.5 percent of recorded history.

This Women’s History Month, we’re determined to change that.

Would You Wear a Bracelet of Live Snakes?

Virginia Hall would—specifically, to hiss down her enemies at school.

(True story).

Born in the early 20th century, Virginia preferred the serpentine over the sexist expectations of her time. First, she was a diplomat. Then, she led a slithering spy mission against the Nazis. And helped out the French Resistance. And very casually, ensured that D-Day… actually happened.

And yet, you’ve probably never heard of her. Read more about Virginia, and other overlooked and iconic women, here.

Our Entire Country Could Lose Access to Medication Abortion.

Extremist (cough: sexist and homophobic) Judge Kacsmaryk openly believes the sexual revolution has made every individual “an autonomous blob of Silly Putty unconstrained by nature or biology,” ushering in a world where “marriage, sexuality, gender identity and even the unborn child must yield to the erotic desires of liberated adults.”

This is the irrational man who was not only allowed to be a judge but, any day now, could force the FDA to withdraw its 20-year approval of mifepristone—a medication safely used in over half of all abortions in the United States.  

We have every reason to be concerned. Because outside of his silly-putty soliloquies, Kacsmaryk’s previous anti-civil rights decisions present a threat to the very basis of our democracy. That threat couldn’t be more evident in this case, and if he sides with anti-abortion groups, Black, Brown, and low-income communities will experience the greatest harm.

But no matter how this case goes, we are ready to meet this moment.

Because in February 2023, alongside five other reproductive rights organizations, the National Women’s Law Center launched the groundbreaking Abortion Defense Network (ADN).

The goal of this network is simple: Defend abortion providers and supporters caught up in the targeted, extremist, and hateful legal chaos spurred by the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Must-Do's:

• Tell your representatives to oppose H.R. 734—a shameful bill that attempts to ban transgender and intersex girls and women from participating in girls' and women's school sports.
• Tell the Biden administration that employers and universities should not be able to determine the birth control we receive.
• We're proud to be joining the #GreaterThanHate coalition, fighting against extremist attempts to ban abortion, ban books, ban gender, ban race, and ban us. Join the movement today.

Must-Reads:

• The wage gap is robbing women of $398,160 over the course of a 40-year career, and we haven’t even begun to understand the lifetime harm that results from the LGBTQI+ wage gap.
• Stalking of abortion providers has increased 600 percent since 2020. Now more than ever, we need to express our relentless support for these selfless individuals on the front lines of the fight for reproductive freedom.
• I still don’t know how to budget, but Biden sure does—proposing the largest investment in child care and early learning ever put forth by a president.
• Melinda Gates spotlighted five women who inspire her on International Women’s Day—and Fatima Goss Graves, our CEO and President, was one of them!

• You know when you get a Dum-Dum, and there’s a mystery flavor. That’s what this recommended read is. Could be cherry, could be fruit punch, but will be worthwhile either way.

I’m Going Rogue!

"The rights taken away from some inevitably become a training ground for how to take rights away from all."

On International Women’s Day, Leila Abolfazli, an Iranian American and our Director of National Strategy on Abortion Rights, reminded us that one attack on our rights anywhere is an attack on democracy everywhere.

(This blog is so powerful that it deserved its own section)!

Feminist Moment of Joy

I did not get tickets to Taylor Swift’s Eras tour. Or Beyoncé’s Renaissance tour. And yet, I will (bravely, boldly) rise above my personal grievances, and acknowledge that both of these women are making history with some of the world’s highest-grossing concerts yet.

To close out this month, I would love to hear from you about a woman—from pop culture, history, or your day-to-day life—who you love or admire. Like my best friend Shivani who sends me encouraging voice notes (or, as she calls them, “rousing rambles”) every morning to kick off my day.

I hope you have felt roused by my ramble,

Gemma Simoes Decarvalho
she/her/hers
Writer and Editor
National Women’s Law Center