The Only Way Through, is Together

 By Cristin Van Horn

It's 2025, and you’d have to be living under a rock not to notice that we’ve found ourselves in a time of tumultuous change. Across everyone’s news feeds, dinner tables, social media pages, and throughout the country, society appears fragmented. And while this may not be a new problem, now more than ever, women seem to be critically divided. Diversity of thought and different opinions are healthy and the only way to engage in thoughtful discourse, but these days women seem to be divided in ways that are turning us against one another and creating far more hardship than resolve. So how do we honor Women’s History Month without acknowledging and asking this frightening question; women, where has all the solidarity gone? 

Throughout history, women’s voices have risen together, a collective harmony amidst the noise of societal discord, because let’s be honest, society has always posed its challenges for women. From the suffragettes marching for the right to vote, to the tender bonds formed in quilting circles, to the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision (whether you currently support it or not) each moment in history has been woven from threads of diverse experiences and perspectives that come together collectively. Our legacy is not one of uniformity, no two women are the same, neither is their journey or lived experience, but the solidarity and unity of womanhood is what has helped us forge forward in a world that would rather see us sit still. Our progress has been united by the human desire for dignity, respect, and autonomy, not if we go to the same coffee shop or have the same world views. Historically speaking, women have been pretty damn good at saying, “hey, I don’t feel like we are the same, but we deserve the same respect.” … So what the hell is happening now?!?

Words like “feminist” seem to have become dirty in some circles, yet in others, the idea of being a “traditional wife” is utterly patriarchal, if not anti-woman itself. So how are we supposed to navigate being authentically ourselves as women, who own our wants, our bodies, our minds, our futures and families, if we can’t stop vilifying any woman who doesn’t see herself the exact way we see our own existence? 

Today, this legacy is challenged as we confront new realities and societal shifts. Yet, let’s remember that amid these tensions lie opportunities for empathy, growth, and collective strength. We find ourselves at an intersection where our values may diverge, but our histories intertwine. Some may welcome change, while others may fear it. Still, our need to support and understand each other transcends these divisions.

To the women who fear their voices are lost in the swell: this month, we honor your struggles and celebrate your strength. History shows us that change is often met with resistance but resolves with reform. To those who welcome recent changes with open arms: your aspirations for a better world are heard and valued. Empathy has to be our guide as we navigate these times, bridging the gap between differing viewpoints with the strength of our shared humanity.

Now, more than ever, we must champion the principles that bind us: compassion, courage, and connection. We must try to see each other as mirrors reflecting our complexities and compassion, rather than opponents, simply because we don’t have the same opinions. It feels like what we need now is to listen, not to respond, but to understand one another, to find the common ground beneath our feet, even if the ground appears to be shifting.

This Women's History Month, lets remember the timeless traditions of storytelling, wisdom-sharing, and community-building that women have nurtured for eons. Let's celebrate the achievements that we, as a collective force, have contributed to the human narrative. Let us also recognize the power of narrative to foster unity, for stories have the profound ability to transcend the boundaries that divide us. 

By lifting each other, despite our differences, we will be able to rise above the discord. In unity, we will find that our differences do not have to be dividers, they can actually be the very thing that binds us closer, a beautiful, varied, and powerful bond of togetherness.

Let this Women's History Month remind us to celebrate all that we share and a commitment to a future where every woman, regardless of stance or status, can feel valued, heard, and empowered. The solidarity and understanding among women, across all walks of life, is not merely important, it's essential to our progress.