Our 2022 National Listening Tour Report
Listening is Power – Women of Color and This Political Moment in America
In 2022, She the People engaged with our partners at the University of Southern California on a study of women of color to understand what motivates voting behavior and engagement, and why it is time for electeds to listen and genuinely respond to our needs. Together with our all woman-of-color team of researchers, we heard from Black, Indigenous, Latina, Asian and Pacific Islander, and Middle Eastern/North African women representing 10 battleground and stronghold states (Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Wisconsin, California, and New York). This report highlights the findings from our comprehensive study on the perspectives of women of color on the United States political ecosystem and what matters most to them.
“Women of color are no longer waiting to be heard and seen in this country and are seizing this moment to reclaim our democracy. Beyond being the largest growing voting bloc in this nation, women of color are running for office in record numbers, and this report proves that our communities are ready for our people – women of color with their hearts grounded in our shared values of love, justice and belonging – to lead us forward. It’s our pleasure to share what we heard from women of color from our listening sessions: that no matter who we are or where we come from, we want dignity, safety, and healthcare. We want to be able to afford food and rent. We want a democracy that works for us and our communities.”
— Aimee Allison, Founder and President of She the People
What We Heard
How to Use This Report
This report reveals and shares the voice of women of color highlighting their perspectives, roles, positionally and intersectionality with the political ecosystem in the United States. Stakeholders in the political ecosystem – legislators, political parties, funders, advocates, activists, voters and potential voters – can use this report to:
center women of color and their experiences and needs in the political decision-making process
operationalize intersectionality, love, justice, and belonging within the political ecosystem
construct campaigns and messaging that address the issues women of color care about
strategize on the best ways to engage women of color in the political ecosystem
organize and mobilize collective impact and coalitions necessary to increase the power of women of color
Most of all, this report is for women of color everywhere whose voices have been dismissed, ignored, misappropriated, or misrepresented. It is time to step into our vote and our power. It is time for the political ecosystem to start listening and acting.