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| We Asked Women What the Kavanaugh Vote Means for the Next Generation. 40,000 Responded. | We Asked Women What the Kavanaugh Vote Means for the Next Generation. 40,000 Responded. |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| After the Senate’s confirmation of Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court on Saturday, we asked women across the country to tell us how they were reacting. | After the Senate’s confirmation of Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court on Saturday, we asked women across the country to tell us how they were reacting. |
| We heard from 40,000 people. | We heard from 40,000 people. |
| Many of the women — lawyers, teachers, home-schoolers, military spouses — expressed anger and bitterness over the nomination fight and those on the other side of the political divide. They also told us what lessons from this confirmation they will pass down to the next generation. | Many of the women — lawyers, teachers, home-schoolers, military spouses — expressed anger and bitterness over the nomination fight and those on the other side of the political divide. They also told us what lessons from this confirmation they will pass down to the next generation. |
| Here is a selection of their responses, edited and condensed for clarity. Please use the comments to tell us how you viewed this moment. | Here is a selection of their responses, edited and condensed for clarity. Please use the comments to tell us how you viewed this moment. |
| We must break the patriarchy now! | We must break the patriarchy now! |
| I will tell her AND my sons to look closely at Dr. Ford and how strong she was under fire. We must emulate her strength in our daily lives. Every. Single. Day. I want my children to know that they never have to wait 30 years to tell me if something bad happens to them, because I will believe them the minute they tell me — and I will fight for justice for them. | I will tell her AND my sons to look closely at Dr. Ford and how strong she was under fire. We must emulate her strength in our daily lives. Every. Single. Day. I want my children to know that they never have to wait 30 years to tell me if something bad happens to them, because I will believe them the minute they tell me — and I will fight for justice for them. |
| I want my children to know that if they ever act the way Kavanaugh did, either in high school or for a job interview, that I will not be on their side. I will discipline them for vile behavior with everything in my power. | I want my children to know that if they ever act the way Kavanaugh did, either in high school or for a job interview, that I will not be on their side. I will discipline them for vile behavior with everything in my power. |
| — Dr. Lisa Baracker, California | — Dr. Lisa Baracker, California |
| Watching the childish reactions of liberals — pounding and scratching at the Supreme Court doors, blocking roads, attacking people on the right, chasing politicians or pundits through subways, out of restaurants, etc. — has only firmed my stance on my beliefs. | Watching the childish reactions of liberals — pounding and scratching at the Supreme Court doors, blocking roads, attacking people on the right, chasing politicians or pundits through subways, out of restaurants, etc. — has only firmed my stance on my beliefs. |
| If you are ever a victim of sexual harassment or assault, speak up when it happens. | If you are ever a victim of sexual harassment or assault, speak up when it happens. |
| — Nicole MacKinnon, Columbus, Ohio | — Nicole MacKinnon, Columbus, Ohio |
| I'm devastated. MAGA means going back to the ’50s when women and minorities are sidelined and punished and minimized at every turn. | I'm devastated. MAGA means going back to the ’50s when women and minorities are sidelined and punished and minimized at every turn. |
| To my husband and son, I have said that I'm insulted and angry that so many believe that all men commit sexual assault and it's just a part of growing up. To my daughters I say that the world is not fair. Women are not believed when reporting sexual assault. | To my husband and son, I have said that I'm insulted and angry that so many believe that all men commit sexual assault and it's just a part of growing up. To my daughters I say that the world is not fair. Women are not believed when reporting sexual assault. |
| — Maureen Blackwood, Richmond, Va. | — Maureen Blackwood, Richmond, Va. |
| I am pleased that basic human rights such as “innocent until proven guilty,” “burden of proof is on the accuser,” the need for “evidence,” etc., have not been removed from our society. | I am pleased that basic human rights such as “innocent until proven guilty,” “burden of proof is on the accuser,” the need for “evidence,” etc., have not been removed from our society. |
| If I were advising a son, I would tell him to avoid like the plague any woman who identifies with people who will do literally anything for power, because she cannot be trusted to treat you with fairness and honesty. | If I were advising a son, I would tell him to avoid like the plague any woman who identifies with people who will do literally anything for power, because she cannot be trusted to treat you with fairness and honesty. |
| If I were advising a daughter, I would tell her not to be like them. Don’t play the victim. Don’t lie for attention and money and power. Be fair-minded and honest and decent. | If I were advising a daughter, I would tell her not to be like them. Don’t play the victim. Don’t lie for attention and money and power. Be fair-minded and honest and decent. |
| — Margaret Johnson, Texas | — Margaret Johnson, Texas |
| Kavanaugh’s hearings were not a criminal trial. There was no requirement that the allegations be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. The hearings were a job interview for one of the most respected positions in the United States. | Kavanaugh’s hearings were not a criminal trial. There was no requirement that the allegations be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. The hearings were a job interview for one of the most respected positions in the United States. |
| There is clearly doubt and disagreement about what happened all those years ago. For me, that should have been enough for more senators to vote no. Christine Blasey Ford was believable. She had nothing to gain and everything to lose. | |
| Everyone should learn a lot more about the structure of the government, what standards of proof are and when they apply. | Everyone should learn a lot more about the structure of the government, what standards of proof are and when they apply. |
| — Victoria Church, Connecticut | — Victoria Church, Connecticut |
| I will be voting Republican now. I don’t want this crap happening in this country ever again. | I will be voting Republican now. I don’t want this crap happening in this country ever again. |
| Due process has protected all Americans for decades — the days of being publicly lynched for unsubstantiated claims or assaults are over! Thank God. | Due process has protected all Americans for decades — the days of being publicly lynched for unsubstantiated claims or assaults are over! Thank God. |
| — Meredith Fiori, Palo Alto, Calif. | — Meredith Fiori, Palo Alto, Calif. |
| This isn’t about men versus women. It’s about right and wrong. If women truly want equal rights, stop making everything about gender. What happened to not judging someone by their race, creed, gender, etc.? I’m a Latina and that has never kept me from achieving anything. | This isn’t about men versus women. It’s about right and wrong. If women truly want equal rights, stop making everything about gender. What happened to not judging someone by their race, creed, gender, etc.? I’m a Latina and that has never kept me from achieving anything. |
| To my sons: Always do what is good, right and be kind. Oh, and start a calendar journal. You never know when that will come in handy. | To my sons: Always do what is good, right and be kind. Oh, and start a calendar journal. You never know when that will come in handy. |
| — Yvette Varela, Arizona | — Yvette Varela, Arizona |
| I honestly feel as though the left has used this woman as a political pawn. If any of them truly cared, Juanita Broaddrick [a woman who accused President Bill Clinton of sexual assaulting her in 1978] would have her day in court, too. | I honestly feel as though the left has used this woman as a political pawn. If any of them truly cared, Juanita Broaddrick [a woman who accused President Bill Clinton of sexual assaulting her in 1978] would have her day in court, too. |
| Justice, apparently, only happens for some people based on their political affiliation. | Justice, apparently, only happens for some people based on their political affiliation. |
| I have begged my son to take necessary precautions in the future as a result of this case. While I wish I were joking, I've implored my son to “get it in writing” before entering into any kind of relationship. | I have begged my son to take necessary precautions in the future as a result of this case. While I wish I were joking, I've implored my son to “get it in writing” before entering into any kind of relationship. |
| — Tanya Coeur, Waterford, Mich. | — Tanya Coeur, Waterford, Mich. |
| I think if more women were senators and would have been able to vote, it would have been clear that this has happened to so many women, and that Dr. Ford would never have outed herself were this not true. | I think if more women were senators and would have been able to vote, it would have been clear that this has happened to so many women, and that Dr. Ford would never have outed herself were this not true. |
| I have a 20-year-old junior in college. I have taught him to never conduct yourself in ways that would come back to haunt you because of your despicable behavior. Do not overdrink or smoke. Treat women honorably, be kind and follow the law. | I have a 20-year-old junior in college. I have taught him to never conduct yourself in ways that would come back to haunt you because of your despicable behavior. Do not overdrink or smoke. Treat women honorably, be kind and follow the law. |
| But my son is African-American, and he is even more susceptible to judgments on his behavior and unfair consequences that young white men like Kavanaugh would never have suffered. | But my son is African-American, and he is even more susceptible to judgments on his behavior and unfair consequences that young white men like Kavanaugh would never have suffered. |
| If a young black man had been the type of young man that Kavanaugh was, never once could he ever dream of being sworn onto the Supreme Court. Never. | If a young black man had been the type of young man that Kavanaugh was, never once could he ever dream of being sworn onto the Supreme Court. Never. |
| — Sheila Coleman Castells, Eglon, W.Va. | — Sheila Coleman Castells, Eglon, W.Va. |
| It is not so much that I leaned toward her, as I leaned away from him. He seemed to me very much as one who is inclined toward a binge, a binger. | It is not so much that I leaned toward her, as I leaned away from him. He seemed to me very much as one who is inclined toward a binge, a binger. |
| I have four sons, and they are all grown. I was very outraged (to their embarrassment) whenever I found out they were at parties where drinking and drugs were in abundance. | I have four sons, and they are all grown. I was very outraged (to their embarrassment) whenever I found out they were at parties where drinking and drugs were in abundance. |
| No one is able to be responsible for their safety or that of others when one is stupid drunk. And you are still responsible for your actions afterward, even if you can’t remember what happened. | No one is able to be responsible for their safety or that of others when one is stupid drunk. And you are still responsible for your actions afterward, even if you can’t remember what happened. |
| — Jamie Ballenger, Charlottesville, Va. | — Jamie Ballenger, Charlottesville, Va. |
| Senator Collins is a woman, and she looked at the facts and voted her conscience and didn’t let her emotions or party dictate her vote. THAT is the kind of PERSON we need in Congress. I don’t care what their gender is. | Senator Collins is a woman, and she looked at the facts and voted her conscience and didn’t let her emotions or party dictate her vote. THAT is the kind of PERSON we need in Congress. I don’t care what their gender is. |
| Women who make up false allegations against good men will ruin the credibility of women who actually are assaulted. | Women who make up false allegations against good men will ruin the credibility of women who actually are assaulted. |
| Tell the truth. Always. And don’t party until you’re an adult. | Tell the truth. Always. And don’t party until you’re an adult. |
| — Renee Tate, Arkansas | — Renee Tate, Arkansas |
| I do think that it's vitally important to have more women in public office, because our government should be representative of the people in this country. That means fewer 50+-year-old white men and more young people, people of color and women. We deserve a government that looks like we do. | I do think that it's vitally important to have more women in public office, because our government should be representative of the people in this country. That means fewer 50+-year-old white men and more young people, people of color and women. We deserve a government that looks like we do. |
| But I don't think that women are inherently less likely to make selfish choices, so I don't know that more Republican female senators would have made any difference at all. | But I don't think that women are inherently less likely to make selfish choices, so I don't know that more Republican female senators would have made any difference at all. |
| Just because people don't believe Dr. Ford doesn't mean she's wrong. She was incredibly brave, and history will ultimately see her as a hero. | Just because people don't believe Dr. Ford doesn't mean she's wrong. She was incredibly brave, and history will ultimately see her as a hero. |
| — Julia Specht, Brooklyn, N.Y. | — Julia Specht, Brooklyn, N.Y. |
| I will need to guard and protect the males in my family from false attacks. | I will need to guard and protect the males in my family from false attacks. |
| My daughter will learn to have respect for the rule of law and to not falsely accuse someone of deeds. My son will learn to respect women but to also watch his back because it could bite him in the end. | My daughter will learn to have respect for the rule of law and to not falsely accuse someone of deeds. My son will learn to respect women but to also watch his back because it could bite him in the end. |
| — Monique Dorsey, Connecticut | — Monique Dorsey, Connecticut |
| If Kavanaugh had just admitted he drank too much and that he doesn’t remember, but if he did something, he is sorry, I would feel so differently about the whole thing. | If Kavanaugh had just admitted he drank too much and that he doesn’t remember, but if he did something, he is sorry, I would feel so differently about the whole thing. |
| The first is to vote and that every vote counts. The second is that everyone makes mistakes in their youth, and it is important to be honest about your mistakes and own them. If you wrong someone, apologize — it will help you AND them. If you behave badly, own it and vow never to do it again. | The first is to vote and that every vote counts. The second is that everyone makes mistakes in their youth, and it is important to be honest about your mistakes and own them. If you wrong someone, apologize — it will help you AND them. If you behave badly, own it and vow never to do it again. |
| — Melissa Spencer, Los Angeles | — Melissa Spencer, Los Angeles |
| Roe v. Wade will not be overturned. It is the law of the land. Too many liberals are thinking with their emotions and not the rational parts of their brains, and this is causing them to act as if they are irrational teenagers. | Roe v. Wade will not be overturned. It is the law of the land. Too many liberals are thinking with their emotions and not the rational parts of their brains, and this is causing them to act as if they are irrational teenagers. |
| Trump, Kavanaugh — these men are not going to take away women’s rights. In fact, if people would take a minute to look at the evidence, they would find much to the contrary. | Trump, Kavanaugh — these men are not going to take away women’s rights. In fact, if people would take a minute to look at the evidence, they would find much to the contrary. |
| It’s important to stand your ground and fight for everything on which this country was founded. | It’s important to stand your ground and fight for everything on which this country was founded. |
| — Jennifer Turpin, South Carolina | — Jennifer Turpin, South Carolina |
| I was elected to local office last year. I always tell friends who are passionate about politics that they should consider running themselves. It is extremely important to have more women in office, especially Democratic women. We also need more women to believe they are worthy of running for office. | I was elected to local office last year. I always tell friends who are passionate about politics that they should consider running themselves. It is extremely important to have more women in office, especially Democratic women. We also need more women to believe they are worthy of running for office. |
| Downtrodden people have overcome far worse adversity than we are facing now. Never lose hope and always believe in the power of collective action to make a difference in the world. The human spirit is indomitable. | Downtrodden people have overcome far worse adversity than we are facing now. Never lose hope and always believe in the power of collective action to make a difference in the world. The human spirit is indomitable. |
| — Sadaf Jaffer, Montgomery Township, N.J. | — Sadaf Jaffer, Montgomery Township, N.J. |
| A woman doesn't forget the face of the man who attempts to pull her clothes off. | A woman doesn't forget the face of the man who attempts to pull her clothes off. |
| She also had a previous relationship to him. This wasn't a stranger. She knew him. She had context for him. She would have known him at the party. With him on top of her, all the context that came before would have been racing through her mind to try to understand how this happened. When she said she was 100 percent certain, I believed her. | She also had a previous relationship to him. This wasn't a stranger. She knew him. She had context for him. She would have known him at the party. With him on top of her, all the context that came before would have been racing through her mind to try to understand how this happened. When she said she was 100 percent certain, I believed her. |
| Vote. Our current president is in office because he won about 70,000 more votes in three key swing states. Many of the senators who voted “Yes” on Kavanaugh won their seats in midterm elections. The lesson is this: Vote! | Vote. Our current president is in office because he won about 70,000 more votes in three key swing states. Many of the senators who voted “Yes” on Kavanaugh won their seats in midterm elections. The lesson is this: Vote! |
| — Lisa Sharon Harper, Washington, D.C. | — Lisa Sharon Harper, Washington, D.C. |
| A note to readers who are not subscribers: This article from the Reader Center does not count toward your monthly free article limit. | A note to readers who are not subscribers: This article from the Reader Center does not count toward your monthly free article limit. |
| Follow the @ReaderCenter on Twitter for more coverage highlighting your perspectives and experiences and for insight into how we work. | Follow the @ReaderCenter on Twitter for more coverage highlighting your perspectives and experiences and for insight into how we work. |