The Incoming Congresswomen Are Proof Women Succeed When We Lift Each Other Up
Just a few weeks ago, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the now-youngest congresswoman who's quickly come up as a political star, went viral on Twitter (as she often does) for responding to a Vox article in which Ezra Klein said he was wrong for giving exiting House Speaker Paul Ryan the benefit of the doubt.
Ocasio-Cortez wrote, “Double standards are Paul Ryan being elected at 28 and immediately being given the benefit of his ill-considered policies considered genius; and me winning a primary at 28 to immediately be treated with suspicion & scrutinized, down to my clothing, of being a fraud.” She then moved the conversation to Instagram, where she wrote a lengthy caption about the importance of pointing out double standards and sticking up yourself, even when it makes others uncomfortable.
And while that sort of fearlessness is revolutionary in itself, what was equally amazing was the response from her fellow congresswoman-elect. As New York Times’ Maya Salam pointed out, Rashida Tlaib, who will represent Michigan's 13th district as one of the nation's first Muslim congresswomen, gave Ocasio-Cortez "a digital fist-bump" by replying to her Instagram and saying, "Speak truth, sis!"
That same week, congresswoman-elect Ayanna Pressley was featured in a BuzzFeed article, which Ocasio-Cortez made sure to tweet out with the message: “I am so incredibly proud of @AyannaPressley.” And the support was turned right back around, with Pressley responding, “And I of you. Thank you for living #shinetheory out loud, for sparking a movement, inspiring a generation & leading the charge on a #GreenNewDeal Select Cmte @sunrisemvmt @SunriseBoston”
The term Shine Theory was originally coined by best friends and podcasters Ann Friedman and Aminatou Sow. It's the phrase they created to represent the concept that, "I don't shine if you don't shine.” It's the idea that there is room at the top for everyone; that we get better by lifting each other up, befriending each other, and recognizing the success of other women, instead of feeling threatened by others' accomplishments. As Friedman wrote on her website, “We practice Shine Theory because true confidence is infectious. Because powerful women make the greatest friends. Because people know you by the company you keep. Because we want the strongest, happiest, smartest women in our corner-and we want to support each other in pursuing success and happiness on our own terms.”
And this support, this idea of working with-not against-other powerful women has permeated into these soon-to-be lawmakers' actions.
They celebrate when they wear the same clothes, instead of feeling like someone stole their sartorial spotlight:
When they’re featured together, they talk about how incredible it is to get to serve alongside other groundbreaking women:
They cheer on each other's actions-like the time Tlaib tweeted about Pressley sending Sunrise Movement activists a pizza dinner-instead of shying away from news that has nothing to do with them:
And they show their support in bigger moments, too. Pressley, who was elected as Massachusetts' first black congresswoman after beating out a 10-term incumbent in the primaries, was hoping to draw a good number in the congressional orientation's office lottery, which is how freshman lawmakers decide what office they get. Pressley was hoping to occupy the office once held by Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman elected to Congress. And she ended up getting it-all thanks to congresswoman-elect Katie Hill, who drew a better lottery number and gave it to Pressley so she could nab her dream spot.
When Pressley tweeted her thanks, saying, "We just learned my Congressional Office designation will be #ShirleyChisholm 's former office. How's that for divine intervention, AND the selflessness of my colleague @KatieHill4CA who drew a better lottery# but still wanted me to have it," Hill responded, saying, "No doubt you’re going to do amazing things from that office - I am so excited to serve with you!"
In a recent interview I did with congresswoman-elect Jennifer Wexton (for ELLE's own story about the power of the incoming freshman class), I asked her about her favorite moment from congressional orientation, when the freshman class heads to Washington D.C. to learn the ins and outs of being in Congress.
Her pick, of course, featured another woman. She said, "The moment that was my favorite, and I don’t think I’ll ever forget, was in our first caucus meeting when the deans of the state delegations introduce the new members... to hear Congressman John Lewis introduce Lucy McBath, that was incredible."
McBath, the congresswoman-elect from Georgia's 6th district, became an activist after she lost her son Jordan to gun violence. She's worked with Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, and she's appeared on stage at the Democratic National Convention, though this was her first year running for Congress. Wexton said to see Lewis, who she says is "an American hero and legend in his own right," introduce McBath was amazing.
And the support isn't just coming from newcomers. In a recent interview with ELLE.com, soon-to-be House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was asked about California congresswoman Sala Burton, who appointed Pelosi as her successor before she passed away. It's an example, Pelosi agrees, of how the only way for women to reach the top ranks of politics is through the help of other women.
"I say to women all the time, 'This is not a zero-sum game. One woman’s success is not subtracting from anybody else’s opportunity. It’s the reverse. Every woman’s success helps other women,'" she said. "Women helping women-people are now seeing the magnified impact of that, and it’s a beautiful thing to behold."
These politicians have made it clear: This is the kind of spirit they are taking with them when they are sworn into office on January 3rd. They will support one another, care for one another. They know that the success of one does not dim the success of another, but instead, that each of their individual wins have made way for the others. Now we just have to wait see what they can accomplish together.
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