Welcome to our Media Round Up. Each week we’re collecting and sharing our favorite gender + politics stories. The post-Thanksgiving week has been a cornucopia of news, so settle in and get caught up. 

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Black Women Are “Done” Reclaiming Power After The 2024 Election
Essence, Kizzy Cox

SEED, a media and storytelling platform that aims to “positively transform lives,” hosted a virtual convening titled “Power of Black Women” on November 25, focusing on themes that have emerged amongst black women following the presidential election. A key theme of the meeting centered on how much Black women “take care of everyone and everything but themselves,” experiencing burnout as a result. In the wake of the election results – in which 92 percent of Black women cast a ballot for Kamala Harris – the nearly 400 participants were encouraged to Double down on rest, Own your stuff and encourage healthy boundaries, and Nurture themselves first, before others and Extend grace (DONE). Women who convened at the panel were also reminded that freedom fighting is a “multigenerational fight,” as panelists noted that while young people are currently at the forefront of the struggle for equality, “uniting across generations” will be equally important to make progress and achieve their political goals.

Increasing Women Anywhere Increases Women Everywhere

Women across the country continue to make gains in the political sphere, corporate world, and the labor force, despite fears and uncertainty heading into a second Trump administration. In state legislatures, women show their might: women will fill a record number of state legislative seats across America in 2025; the Ohio General Assembly alone will add seven more women next term, marking the third-highest gain of any state. For women in leadership, female bosses have made inroads that could “pave the way” for more advances – women leading private companies valued at over $1 billion more than doubled from last year, and the number of female entrepreneurs jumped a staggering 41 percent. Women in the U.S. military have also recently spoken out about the importance of their representation, emphasizing the necessity of their work in light of comments made by possible defense secretary Pete Hegseth, in which he suggested that women should not serve in combat roles. And for those in the workforce, older women are changing the landscape of U.S. labor, with multiple studies from the past decade showing that many women work longer because they “genuinely want to.”

Can Trump 2.0, Project 2025 Threaten Women’s Careers-The “Mamattorney”
Forbes, Gemma Allen

President-elect Donald Trump tried to distance himself from Project 2025, but its core message is still sparking concerns among its opponents. Daphne Delvaux, head of the Mamattorney platform, works to empower working mothers who face gender discrimination in the workplace. She says the fear surrounding the attack on pregnant workers and women in general is best combated with knowledge, and federal legislation such as the Pregnancy Workers Fairness Act and others which would safeguard workplace rights for pregnant workers rather than leaving it up to individual states. Further, she emphasizes that it’s important for women to know their rights, especially as cultural attacks on DEI can lead to inequality, “…broad sweeping consequences on flexibility, equal advancement opportunities, and resources for balancing work and family.” Delvaux urges women not to panic, but plan for their future and exercise their workplace rights. She reiterates that knowledge is key against gender-based attacks and discrimination.

​​Kelly Loeffler Picked to Lead Small Business Administration

Trump has picked another woman to lead in his administration – Kelly Loeffler – to head the Small Business Administration. Loeffler is currently a co-chair on Trump’s inauguration committee, and served as a U. S. Senator from Georgia in 2020 when appointed by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp to fill a vacant seat. She would lose the seat a year later in a special election with Democrat Rev. Raphael Warnock. Prior to her Senate service, Loeffler worked primarily in the private sector, spending 25 years in financial services and technology. She led a company to massive growth and achieved Fortune 500 status by gaining thousands of employees. She also was the chief executive of the cryptocurrency trading platform Bakkt, which Trump’s media group is in talks to purchase. She and her husband, Jeffrey Sprecher, co-own the Atlanta Dream, a WNBA team.

Former Gov. M. Jodi Rell Remembered as a Kind Leader who ‘Healed’ Connecticut
AP, Susan Haigh

Following her passing on November 21, former Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell is remembered fondly among Democrats and Republicans alike for her firm but kind demeanor, and someone who worked tirelessly across the political aisle. Rell, a Republican, served as Connecticut’s governor from 2004-2011, and was previously a state representative and the state’s lieutenant governor from 1995-2004. Former Democratic state Sen. Donald Williams described Rell as a “respectful person of integrity who wanted to do her best for the people of Connecticut.” She was also known for her friendliness and relatability, two traits that followed her even after leaving office. Rell was the second female Connecticut governor.

‘Childless Cat Lady’ Taylor Swift Tops Yale List of 2024’s Most Notable Quotations
AP, Dave Collins

Yale University has released their list of 2024’s most notable quotations, with Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris at the top. Swift posted her endorsement of Harris on Instagram after the presidential debate in September, signing it “Childless Cat Lady.” This became a rallying cry among Democratic women and sparked discussion on gender roles, which became a cornerstone of the election. To learn more about the impact of  celebrity endorsements, read our Gender on the Ballot blog entry about them. President Biden and president-elect Trump also made the list. The list is compiled each year by Fred Shapiro, an associate director at the Yale Law Library, because they are famous or important or particularly revealing of the spirit of our times.

Swiftonomics: American University Professor Kara Reynolds on the Taylor Swift economy
Taylor Swift’s influence extends beyond pop culture and politics to the economy. AU Professor and Economics Department Chair Kara Reynolds was featured on CNBC’s Squawk Box on December 6 to talk about the Eras Tour impact on consumer spending, the economic model underpinning the live and film concert performances, and impact on the economy on 5 continents. Reynolds teaches a course on “Swiftonomics” at American University.