Participants agreed that the consequences of a conservative trend in court decisions, federal legislation and state laws disproportionately affect women of color, young women and those receiving federal income assistance, Medicaid and Medicare. However, several women spoke of an encouraging trend emerging from this year's election. Paij Wadley-Bailey, diversity chairperson of Vermont NOW, said a backlash against Vermont's becoming the first state to legalize civil unions for gays and lesbians has focused attention on gender issues. She said the result has been a resurgence of women, especially young women, organizing, taking part in rallies and becoming politically active. She participated in a panel of six women who represented the diverse groups coming together.
People work for many movements and they blend into each other.
Those who used to be called feminists now are working for gay rights, equal pay, environmental rights and for many other causes. Patti Reid is a free-lance writer and former Associated Press correspondent based in New England.