Your cart is currently empty!
Feeling at a Loss for Words This Week? Amber Thompson’s Insightful Letter Hits Home
Amber Thompson penned a poignant letter that resonates with countless women grappling with their feelings this week. “Through you, our eyes have been opened, and we cannot unsee how much half of this country values women—including women themselves.” This sentiment encapsulates the essence of Amber’s open letter to a prominent public figure, striking a chord with many of us right now.
“Today, we woke up and sent each other snapshots of our swollen, tear-streaked faces,” Thompson reflects on the morning after the election. “We texted about our kids, who woke up terrified in the night, conjuring nightmares of walls being erected. We shared our anxieties as we tried to explain to our daughters how a man with a history of assaulting women now holds the highest office in the land. We reached out as expectant mothers, uncertain of what the future may hold for us. I counted 38 texts of this nature that I received from friends this morning, and I responded in kind.”
This week, we share a painful camaraderie. We empathize with the heartache of a fallen candidate. We understand the struggles of those overlooked for promotions, those labeled “overly assertive” rather than “passionate leaders,” and those who have outperformed their male colleagues yet remained unrecognized. With decades of experience in politics and a wealth of knowledge about foreign affairs, this candidate was a seasoned leader. Yet, she lost to a reality TV star with zero political experience. Her defeat stings for all who have been dismissed.
“Your candidacy held a mirror to the nation, reflecting its deep-seated love-hate relationship with strong women, and you bore it all for us during this election,” Thompson writes. “You emerged as the guiding star for our future, a beacon for all the work we have done and the battles still ahead.”
Yesterday, many of us wore looks of utter despair. There’s no sugarcoating it; we felt defeated. It’s okay to admit it. That hollow expression of shock is painful, almost more so than the loss itself. I found it hard to encounter another woman without tears welling up in my eyes. Because I recognized that look. It’s disbelief. We were deserving. We had the momentum. What went wrong? If those expressions could speak, they would echo that sentiment.
“We want you to know we see the efforts you’ve made, and we now recognize the work that lies ahead,” she emphasizes. “Through you, we’ve awakened to the harsh reality of how much half this country values women—ourselves included. We’re now more aware than ever of our interconnectedness, and also the disconnection among us.”
What’s especially disheartening for many is realizing how many women supported the opposing candidate. Our rights, our freedoms—they feel like they’ve been betrayed by some of our own. That’s a hard truth to swallow. For many, this candidate symbolized the chance for our achievements to be acknowledged on a national stage. We sought validation that women are indeed equal.
While we didn’t receive that affirmation, we’ve come to understand that the revolution isn’t solely about recognition. It’s about the fire ignited within each of us—no single election can extinguish that, no matter how defeated we feel at the moment. We rise again. That’s what we do.
“You are part of a revolution that has been brewing within us for generations. You were our collective representation, a figure we could point to and say, ‘There. That’s how our power manifests. That’s how our power is mythologized. That’s how our power is earned and reborn. That’s how our power can be dangerous, in the best possible way.’”
“I see you, Alex Carter. I see you. Thank you for seeing us.”
This article originally appeared on November 10, 2016. For more insightful content, check out our other posts on home insemination and explore resources on fertility.
In summary, Amber Thompson’s heartfelt letter captures the collective feelings of women grappling with recent events. It highlights the shared pain, the need for recognition, and the unwavering strength that lies within us.