Feminine Power on the March in Washington, DC
It may have looked like 1.5 million people were in in DC the weekend of 21 March for the Women’s March, but it was really the ENTIRE country. Women from as far as California came to walk alongside each other to show their support for women’s human rights. I took to this march with one question, “how has power shifted since the election”? My questions were answered in a big, soul satisfying way.
Everyone from Alicia Keys to newborn babies coexisted on Constitution Avenue during the 7-hour rally and march for women on January 21st. The energy was incredibly powerful, and yet it wasn’t the feeling of traditional power. There wasn’t the forceful use of words to provoke physical overtaking, there wasn’t a call to overthrow the system, or to dominate over other groups. What people wanted was to stand up, to connect with their community, to welcome others who are different, to reassure each other that there is still love.
What it felt like was feminine power.
While marching, I saw tears streaming down a young woman’s face, and I felt drawn to ask her about why she joined the march. Amanda from New York City looked me straight in the eyes and said “I am standing for all of us sisters, even the ones who can’t stand. I’m standing for Planned Parenthood, because my family is full of physicians and we know more support is needed for communities.”
There were chants of “My body My choice”, while men responded “Her body Her choice”, and this continued on and off during the march. There were other, more politically-leaning chants, but all focused on the push back against the rhetoric that divided people. This reminded me that feminine power must contain an element of creativity- after all, women have the innate ability to amplify beauty. When asked how she defined feminine power, Delia from Indianapolis responded “Feminine power is the beauty, intelligence and full range of abilities we are endowed with as human beings”.
I couldn’t make it through the march without connecting with the incredible men who were there with their friends, wives, mothers, sisters and daughters and held their fists high for feminine power when prompted. I stopped a man named Soji from New Jersey and asked why supporting this movement was important to him. He gave me a warm and endearing smile at first, then proceeded to tell me: “I’ve never taken time to mobilize against injustice- this movement changed all of that. I’ve recognized the injustice of gender equality while I underwent my own gender transition. I felt like feminism was weak, but I know now that womanhood is rooted in immense strength”.
As a result of today’s movement all across the country, amplified by people who watched in solidarity abroad, feminine power has indeed proven itself a force to be reckoned with. The movement of women around the world will continue to shift immensely throughout the Trump Presidency, with each woman holding each other’s arm regardless of gender, sexual orientation, color, or religious practice.
Lea Berry is a Life + Career Coach for multi-passionate millennial women who want to lead purposeful and impactful lives. In her coaching practice, she fuses her decade of government and consulting experience with her core belief that successful women can lead with authenticity and an empowered being. Lea can be found meeting other authentic women around Washington, DC, enjoying a good laugh with friends, and hanging in her virtual living room called the Passion Tribe. www.leaberrycoaching.com. Instagram: @leaberrycoaching.com Twitter: @leawberry
