I had the honor and privilege of attending the Young Women’s Leadership Summit held by Turning Point USA in Dallas, Texas last week. Whether or not you are familiar with TPUSA, agree with TPUSA, or support TPUSA is irrelevant in understanding the underlying message and overarching purpose that this summit presented. For four days, 1,400 young ladies came together in camaraderie of American values and conservatism.; concepts that are largely rejected in the mainstream narrative and among the young generations. What I learned, observed, and experienced should give hope to those who embody these values and constructive insight to those who don’t.
Being a female with right-leaning viewpoints is taboo. You’re not really supposed to say it out loud and if you do, you better prepare yourself for condemnation. It’s largely assumed that women hold values resembling left-wing ideals and those who don’t are deemed “brainwashed” by men, as Hillary Clinton so eloquently articulated. Left-wing activists and Hollywood celebrities voiced their distaste for the new Georgia and Alabama abortion laws by berating the bills as being an attack on women by evil white men. They argue that being pro-life is a stance of the patriarchy and that any woman who does support the right to life is secretly misogynistic. Left-wing viewpoints are dishonestly correlated with women’s rights and empowerment. It’s common for headlines in media to disparage the existence of Republican women while refusing to acknowledge Republican women of color (spoiler alert: not all conservative women are white).
“Half of white women continue to vote Republican. What’s wrong with them?” – The Guardian
“The betrayal of white women voters: in pivotal state races, they still back the GOP” – Vox
“Why Do White Women Keep Voting for the GOP and Against Their Own Interests?” – Vogue
Many young women at the conference opened up about their personal stories of the consequences they face being openly conservative. Losing friends, harassment at school, cyber bulling, getting a dozen eggs thrown at your car, and retaliation from teachers are only a few of the unfortunate realities women on the right face (and people on the right in general). However, this article is not about complaining, or feeling sorry for Republican women, or playing the victim. It’s recognizing a reality. The reality that the narrative goes as such: women are supposed to support each other and be all inclusive–unless you don’t agree with progressive politics. The litmus test for womanhood is having a “D” by your name.
Out of all the incredible messages conveyed at the Young Women’s Leadership Summit, one rang the loudest. Being a victor. Despite the reality that conservative women are not being represented in media, Hollywood, education, or the mainstream narrative, we are not victims. Judge Jeanine and Nikki Haley both did a terrific job in hammering home this concept. As women on the right, we accept our circumstance and we rise above it. We accept our reality and rather than back down, we overcome and change our reality. There were 1,400 women in that room who knew what it was like to be persecuted for what they believe in. It would have been easy to focus on our unfair treatment. It would have been easy to play the victim card that’s become second nature to use in our current society. But, we didn’t because our convictions don’t swing that way. We hold the mindset that no matter our adversity, we control how we react and where our lives will take us.
As Alyssa Milano and her fellow cohorts of progressive feminism like to fondly say, there is a war on women. And, there is. There is a war on conservative women, but we refuse to roll over and take it. We don’t whine and cry; we organize. Life doesn’t reward victimhood. Sure, the government and societal systems try to, but life doesn’t. Victimhood is not the badge of honor that the left likes to champion with their intersectional ideals. We don’t find solace in fabricating a patriarchy of systemic levels. We don’t find solace in wallowing in the actual matriarchy of left-wing thought. We recognize, accept, leverage, and win. We are victors.
I will be forever thankful to have spent those four days with the kindest, most resilient, and bravest women I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Conservative women utilize respect just as much as assertiveness. Our ideals reside in virtue and civility that can only be accurately portrayed with grace and strength. A sign of an intelligent and free-thinking woman is not where she falls on the ideological spectrum. A sign of an intelligent and free-thinking woman is rejecting the notion that respect and womanhood lies only with those who adhere to a left-leaning set of principles.
To the conservative women who are persecuted for their views and feel alone in their struggle, take control of your adversity. You are not a victim. You are a victor. And, you are not alone. Even when you are surrounded by opposition, there is a sisterhood of fierce conservative women who are fighting alongside you. I know firsthand. I was recently with 1,400 of them. To the liberal women who look down on your fellow females for thinking differently, your views are not objective fact. They are not gospel. Acting as such only gives justification for intolerance. American values and conservatism has no gender, color, or identity. It has no victimhood mentality. So, my sisters, stand firm and be steadfast in your convictions. Because there is a culture wave coming. And it’s red, white, and blue.
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Alyssa Ahlgren
Alyssa has her Bachelor’s in Business Administration and currently works as an analyst in corporate finance. She grew up in northern Wisconsin and is a former collegiate hockey player. Alyssa is pursuing her passion for current events and politics through writing and being an advocate for the conservative movement.
