The Pantsuit Nation Manifesto

“And to the millions of volunteers, community leaders, activists and union organizers who knocked on doors, talked to their neighbors, posted on Facebook — even in secret private Facebook sites. I want everybody coming out from behind that and make sure your voices are heard going forward.”

– Hillary Clinton, November 9, 2016

Who we are:

Stories spark change. Taken individually, a story can create a tiny opening in a once-closed space. It is a glimmer. It can shine as something that is true and raw and beautiful. But one story — a single voice telling a single story — is often all too easy to ignore, to shout over or drown out. A single voice can be targeted or silenced.

Pantsuit Nation exists to harness the power of collective storytelling. Millions of voices telling millions of stories. We amplify the voices of those who have historically been underrepresented or excluded. We listen. We empower our members to speak with honesty and without fear of attack. We are strong in our diversity. We invite conversation — true conversation — about the issues that are most fundamental to us and our identities.

We believe that feminism is intersectional. We believe that “women’s rights are human rights.” We believe that progress around racial justice, LGBTQ* rights, rights for people with disabilities, religious freedom, and the fight to combat hatred and bigotry in all forms is most effective when emboldened and humanized through first-person narrative. We believe that politics is personal, and that progressive movement occurs when the empathetic potential of a story is unleashed.

​Stories spark change. Taken collectively, stories open us up to the vast and complex realities of what it means to live, work, love, struggle, and celebrate in our country. As Pantsuit Nation, millions of glimmers combine to create the kind of bright light that can’t be ignored or overshadowed.

What We Do:

Foster connection. Pantsuit Nation is a lens through which we learn about the lives of others, often in a deeply personal way. Our members actively create and promote a culture of interest, respect, and empathy that directly translates into a better understanding of how policy impacts marginalized people in our country. If we can be driven to care about the stories of others, we can be driven to care about the policies that affect them.

Take action. Pantsuit Nation members are committed to carrying out thoughtful, forward-thinking actions, whether it’s confronting a bully, volunteering at a local nonprofit, donating money to an important cause, or extending a simple kindness to another person. Through partnerships with national and local organizations, the collective impact of our stories and the actions they inspire has the potential to change the world.

Extend trust. This movement started within the confines of a private Facebook group. While we continue to value the security that environment affords, particularly to our most vulnerable members, we must also “[come] out from behind that and make sure [our] voices are heard going forward.” To do this, we will entrust our stories, selectively but confidently, to our neighbors, our online communities, and, ultimately, the public.

Our Manifesto:

• Collective storytelling amplifies the voices of those who have been marginalized.
• We empower our members to speak with honesty and without fear of attack.
• ​Stories give meaning to action and meaningful action leads to long-term, sustainable change.

For more information about our organization, or to make a donation, please visit our website. Pantsuit Nation is proud to be a project of Civic Engagement Fund.

[Image Description: a 4x4 grid of photos of diverse people in various clothing and poses, all looking strong and powerful]