Equality or Unity: Which Comes First?

Last night, during a time of continued polarization, President Biden delivered his second State of the Union address. His speech met the expected outline of acknowledging political wins while setting the stage for future work ahead. 

Not surprisingly, many of the priorities that President Biden named are closely connected to the social issues present in most of our daily lives. From childcare costs to reproductive health and the economy, these issues create ripple effects in our communities that affect us all. 

As expected, aligned with previous presidential addresses,  he clung to calls for unity and the need to remember “who we are.” 

Unfortunately, when it comes to representation, who we are is grossly unequal. Women make up 51% of the population yet continue to be underrepresented in government. How can we create unity on an unequal foundation? The answer is: we can’t.

To see a different future, something has to change. As highlighted in our 2022 Impact Report, women are motivated by the issues that directly affect them and their communities. By connecting the dots between some of our society’s most pressing issues and the leadership potential women bring to the table, we set the stage for a more equitable future.

So, we throw it back. In order to build a unified nation–in order to remember “who we are”–let’s first remember the responsibility to show up. Let’s support the future leaders we all want to see by doubling down on our commitment to create an equitable democracy that represents us all. 

You can be a part of the change we want to see by encouraging a woman to lead or by donating to our cause. Together, we’ll build a future we can celebrate.