Hello from Shrill Society!

The theme of our Nasty Woman planner in June is voting and we all know it’s a HUGE deal. It’s supposed to be the backbone of our democracy, right? Which is why it’s been the site for so many of the country’s great civil rights battles from women’s suffrage to the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Our planner takes inspiration from Susan B. Anthony. On August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, granting American women the right to vote. Though she didn’t live to see it, Susan B. Anthony helped make women’s suffrage possible. Who gets to vote remains one of the most pressing and frustrating issues facing our country, especially as we gear up for the 2020 presidential election. Thankfully, many groups are carrying on the fight for free and fair elections, and educating the public on how to exercise their rights in exciting and sometimes surprisingly fun ways! We’ll share their tactics, as well as what we’re reading, watching, and learning this month. Tell us what you think or share recommendations with us of women making change happen at hi@shrillsociety.com.

xo,

Amanda + Cameron

What we’re reading

We can’t get enough of Stacey Abrams! After she lost the race for Georgia governor last year due to what many believe was voter suppression, we’re happy to see Abrams back on the campaign trail―this time it’s all about protecting Americans’ right to vote. Vox had a good synopsis of what Abrams had to say onstage at Code Conference 2019, plus a link to the full recording.

These are the conversations we need to be having right now because 2020 will be here before we know it! On Thursday, the Democratic National Committee announced the 20 candidates that will take the stage for the first primary debates on June 26 and 27. Six women candidates made the cut, including Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, and Kirsten Gillibrand.

What we’re watching

There was a lot to look out for on Netflix this spring (ahem, Homecoming, Someone Great, and Always Be My Maybe), so you can’t blame us for getting a little behind on our watchlist. This month we’re catching up and tuning into Knock Down the House, a documentary about four women who ran for Congress in 2018 including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Director Rachel Lears presciently got into the AOC campaign super early, working with progressive groups running then unknown candidates, so you can see all the behind the scenes action and relive her meteoric rise, all from the comfort of your bed.

What we’re talking about

It’s easy to feel that big elections are the only time to make your voice heard. That’s why we were so excited to talk this month with Colleen Pulaski, co-founder of Free Machine, about their Future Perfect game, a choose-your-own-adventure that puts you in the shoes of a neighborhood council member of an imaginary society for 20 years. Obviously we love games (we made one ourselves), so trust us, this one is so much fun! Here’s what Colleen had to say about the importance of getting involved locally:

“So many of the headlines we’re bombarded with deal with incredibly frustrating and scary legislation that targets vulnerable communities. As a result, it becomes easy to get disillusioned or disempowered because federal politics feels distant from most of our day-to-day lives. But these same issues that are streaming out of the federal government are also being dealt with in our local communities. Real, immediate, tangible work is being done at a local level, and the bar to entry is really low, which is a great thing because it means we can feel empowered and we have avenues for action.”

We’ll have the full interview with Colleen for you soon. We’ve had to hold on to it because something cool is in the works. Stay tuned!

That pretty much sums it up. See you soon! Missed Issue #23? Read it here!