#youngfeministsFTW

Immediately following the Rally for Reproductive Justice on January 22, I took it upon myself as the planning committee chair to thank the members of a progressive feminist group from Hot Springs for taking the hour-long journey to attend the rally.

The woman who I encountered seemed less than receptive to my enthusiasm, responding instead with, "Well. We should have had more young people here.  We need young people to start caring about these issues." As disappointing as it was, her response characterizes a common notion among many older feminists that younger generations are largely absent from the modern feminist movement. However, I must say that I staunchly disagree with her assertion that young people were, firstly, not present at the rally, and second that we are not active in the feminist movement.

The idea for our rally came last September in a small group of members of the Little Rock Chapter of the National Organization for Women.  In light of recent political developments, it became apparent that we, as feminists and supporters of reproductive justice, could no longer stand to be reactive. Instead, we chose to be proactive by creating a venue for likeminded individuals to send a unified, peaceful message in support of reproductive justice for women in Arkansas and across the United States.

The goal for the rally was to take dialog away from the"pro-choice/pro-life" dichotomy that so often leads to a conversational deadlock and discuss "reproductive justice" in a waythat was inclusive of all people, including people of color, lower-income people, and people of faith. We chose the theme "Access. Equality. Power. Justice." Among other things, we hoped to be visible, energized, and positive. We aimed to create a rally that would serve as a catalyst and a stage.

We achieved these goals, and I was astounded by the magnitude of energy, spirit, optimism, and power that was present at the rally and throughout the planning process. A collaboration of people and organizations made the event possible and successful; however, I firmly believe that many positive elements would not have existed without the most important of partnerships, that of multiple generations.

Young feminists exist, and we are indispensible. Although we did not experience life before the invention of oral contraceptives or before Roe v. Wade legalized abortion care, we have not forgotten the struggles and gains of those who came before us, nor do we ignore the problems that remain.

And while we mirror the sentiments of previous generations of women's rights activists, we have the unique ability to be visible on different fronts, in very different ways. Although we may not have money to donate or extensive networks of personal connections to call upon, we have energy, enthusiasm, and creativity. Young feminists are accepting unpaid internships to stuff envelops at offices of progressive organizations and political candidates. Young feminists are making phone calls, tweeting, and blogging in support of change and progress. Young feminists are organizing in classrooms across the nation. We are choosing to study and critically discuss reproductive justice and social justice across disciplines, regions, and demographic groups. We are engaged. We are versatile. We are committed. We are hopeful.

The strength of the modern feminist movement is in our diversity and our ability to adapt to new ideas, new technology, and new generations.

In short, I am thankful for members of the Hendrix community who took time out of their busy schedules to make the Rally for Reproductive Justice as success. Thank you for making signs and organizing carpools. Thank you to the many Hendrix alumni who, on behalf of a range of local groups and organizations, donated their time and resources. Thank you, Dr. Williamson, for joining Senator Joyce Elliot, the Ven. Joyce Hardy, and Dr. Joycelyn Elders to share your perspective on reproductive justice in one of the most moving and influential speeches I have ever heard on the issue.Thank you to the Hendrix professors, those who identify as feminists and those who do not, who have encouraged a whole generation of young people to respect each other and to discuss complex issues with passion, empathy, and understanding. On a very personal note, thank you to the students, professors, and alumni who sent emails and notes of encouragement and support. Most importantly, thank you for proving -- day in and day out -- that we are not divided by age, religion, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, or background, but that these differences make us stronger.

To other young activists, please do not stop here. We have a point to prove, and we must continue to make waves in whatever ways we can.  We must earn and keep the respect those around us, and most importantly, we must not take for granted the supportive and progressive atmosphere that surrounds us. We have unique gifts and enthusiasm, and it should be our duty and our pleasure to share these things not only through on-campus activism but by reaching out to our community, our great state, and our country.