Why Women Can't Afford to Ignore Feminism's Fragile Wins

Jan de Vries · 2026-09-09

Elle Lorenzoni has a message that might make you pause: the freedoms women enjoy today aren't set in stone. They can be weakened, reversed, or lost entirely if we stop paying attention. It's a sobering thought, especially when so many of us assume progress only moves forward. But history tells a different story. Rights that took decades to win can disappear in a single legislative session. And that's exactly why Lorenzoni argues that continued political action isn't optional—it's essential. ### The Illusion of Permanent Progress We tend to think of social progress like a staircase. Each step forward is solid, and we'll never slide back down. But that's not how it works. Feminist gains—from reproductive rights to workplace protections—are more like a garden. If you don't tend to them, they wither. Lorenzoni points out that many young women today didn't live through the fights that secured these rights. They grew up with them as a given. That's understandable, but it's also dangerous. When you don't know how hard something was to win, you don't realize how easily it can be taken away. ### Why Political Action Still Matters So what does "continued political action" actually look like? It's not just marching or voting—though those matter. It's staying informed. It's speaking up when you see inequality. It's supporting organizations that fight for women's rights. And it's electing leaders who prioritize gender equality. > "Freedom is never really won. You earn it and win it in every generation." — Coretta Scott King That quote captures it perfectly. Each generation has to re-earn the freedoms it inherits. There's no autopilot. ### The Cost of Complacency When we get complacent, we leave the door open for those who want to roll back progress. We've seen it happen. Laws get passed that restrict access to healthcare. Workplace protections get weakened. And before you know it, the rights you took for granted are gone. Lorenzoni isn't saying this to scare us. She's saying it to wake us up. The stakes are too high to assume someone else will handle it. ### What You Can Do Today You don't have to run for office to make a difference. Here are a few practical steps: - Stay informed about local and national policies affecting women's rights. - Vote in every election—not just the big ones. - Support women-led organizations and businesses. - Speak up when you witness sexism or discrimination. - Teach the next generation about the history of feminist struggles. These might seem like small actions, but they add up. And they send a message that we're not willing to let hard-won rights slip away. ### The Bottom Line Feminism's gains are not a finished project. They're a living, breathing thing that needs care and attention. As Lorenzoni argues, we can't afford to take them for granted—because the moment we do, we risk losing them. So let's stay vigilant. Let's stay engaged. And let's remember that the fight for equality is far from over.