In the days following November 8th many of us cycled through shock, anger, and grief. Friends frantically messaged about their disbelief and fears and I knew I was, at least, not alone. For many women the loss of the first female major party presidential candidate hit on a personal level and left them reeling. The blow especially painful considering she ran with a campaign of stronger together and was one of the most qualified candidates to ever run, losing to a less qualified man who spewed hate, sexism, and discord.
Groups formed rapidly all over the United States, underground social media pages in support of Hillary Clinton and the progress she embodies. One local group, Liberal Women of Chesterfield County (formerly, Liberal Women for Clinton & Cocktails), in a suburb of Richmond, Virginia, grew to over 600 members in just a couple weeks. When asked about their reaction to the election results and what a Trump presidency means to them, this is what some of them had to say:
I was in shock after the election results. I felt as if I were in mourning for our country, still do. I was so disappointed that our country could vote for this person even after everything he said and did. It really hurts…. –Brenda, Chesterfield
I was curled up in a fetal position election night. [It was] difficult to go into work the next day and pretend everything was ok. I've been sleeping in my "Stronger Together" t-shirt since. I've become more active in the community, signed up to march, and donated more to charities. My biggest fear is the rolling back of gains in clean energy – our earth really can't wait four years. –Anonymous, Henrico
….it has given me the impetus to get involved and not sit idly by thinking others will make informed choices…Women's health issues and rights are both of major concern in terms of freedom for our bodies and our mental health. I'm also concerned about immigration and environmental issues. To go into greater detail would be too much – I'd have to write a novel. –Pam, North Chesterfield
There didn't seem to be an appropriate word: dread, fear, upset, hysteria — none of these truly encompassed the gnawing pit growing in my gut, a feeling that everything was going to change in matter of hours. And I was right…my own 15-year-old daughter was called a terrible name, just for sitting with the same group of friends - all girls - at the same table at [local high school] as she has for the last year and a half. Suddenly, THE DAY after the election, a boy felt....emboldened? Entitled? [to aim a] slur, an insult…That one word was FULL of HATRED. Spat it at them. And they were angry. They were terrified. One started to cry….What is my biggest concern in Trump's "new world"? That THIS is the "new normal"…and my amazing child has to play DEFENSE in it. –S. W., Midlothian
I was in shock, horror, and disbelief that night and for days afterward. I kept trying to wrap my head around "President Trump " and it wouldn't happen. Still won't. A child predator in the White House–brought back my PTSD. Hyper vigilant. Slept fully clothed on top of my covers with the lights on for 4 nights. –Anonymous, Midlothian
My biggest fear for the next presidency is for my children. My first was born 6 months after 9/11. Not long after that we were at war. We still remain fighting there, 14 years later. I'm most afraid that my children will be drafted into a war that started literally the year they were born. I'm also afraid that due to amateur hour at the White House the entire education system will be decimated before they can even complete high school. –Whitney, Midlothian
It is painful to know how my beloved country consists of so many hate-filled people. Racism, is alive and well. Misogyny, which had been receding, has become acceptable, and bullying is accepted as the norm. We witnessed a campaign of the lowest form and found people gravitate to that sophomoric behavior. The propaganda tactics that created and sustained Hitler were used here, to a population that was gullible enough to accept it. I fear for the deepening divide between the races, the religions, the cultural and ethnic makeup that made us strong and vibrant. I fear for the bullying attitude of a President to the rest of the world. I cry for the physical changes in our weather, the rising sea levels, the increased earthquake activity from fracking….I fear, perhaps most of all, of someone who has no understanding of the specter of nuclear weapons and that ultimately there is no winner. –Gail, Midlothian
My initial reaction to the election results was total shock and disbelief, which quickly turned to anger. In a short time, I realized my husband's medical care would be in jeopardy after January 20, 2017. [He] had a major heart attack…and was hospitalized for a total of 24 days because of complications. I am here to tell you that without Medicare he would not be alive and doing well today. No one could ever afford these kinds of bills. His bills come to AT LEAST a half million dollars. If Medicare were reduced in any way, the patient would be paying more and getting less. My husband is living proof that Medicare works. –Eileen, Midlothian, VA
When I woke up to the election results on November 9th, it was like awakening in a parallel universe where decency and kindness had gone. I feared even commenting on Facebook because we may well lose our right to dissent when Trump becomes President. I can imagine federally sanctioned Trump loyalists going through social media postings and coming for those of us who post against him. I fear this was our last free election. –Sarah, Midlothian
....when they called NC, I just KNEW at that point, and I started to sob. My husband convinced me then to just turn the TV off and come to bed, where I cried myself to sleep….I have not felt those kinds of emotions since 9/11. The first couple of days, I stayed home a lot and cried….now, I'm just angry and depressed. I worry about it ALL, but my top 3 concerns are 1) the Affordable Care Act and what will happen to that. My oldest is type 1 Diabetic and Obamacare was and is extremely beneficial to us. Because Insurance cannot deny her….If that is taken away from us, I really don't know how we'll pay for it. 2) I worry about the state of the free press and wonder constantly what sources (credible) will be taken from us and that the Trump administration will shut out all media and will have zero transparency with citizens, and, finally 3) I worry with a child at the helm who is inexperienced, we will be vulnerable to attack from outside sources--whether it's a military attack, cyber attack, banking collapse (another Great Depression), etc.
This is what keeps me awake at night. Another thing that has been very difficult to contend with, is the fact, that a man tried to kidnap me when I was a junior in high school walking home one afternoon and I was able to escape by running away. I've had terrible nightmares and flashbacks to that. I have never taken anxiety medicine before or sought the help of a professional therapist, but I am considering both of those now. This group [LWCC] and the Together We Will RVA group as well as reading the stories on PN [Pantsuit Nation], have been lifesavers for me. We have come TOO FAR to turn back now. I am ready to fight back. –Mary, Midlothian
I filed taxes for the first time with my wife last year. Such a simple mundane thing but it meant the world to us...I fear we may lose a fundamental right we've only just gained. I fear my children will be ridiculed and even targeted at school by bullies who echo their parents hate…I have hope, though, too. And I've found myself energized and moved to action. I choose to not let fear overwhelm me, and, instead, be a part of the solution and keep fighting where HRC left off. –Sara, Chesterfield
