Anna Holmes, founder of Jezebel and contributing writer at The Atlantic, explores the cultural and personal significance of saying no in her new book, The Power of No. Drawing on experts from sociology to linguistics, Holmes examines how women and girls are socialized to be obliging and argues that refusal is essential for autonomy and self-preservation.
Under Trump's second term through August 2026, women gained all 759,000 net jobs created while men lost 6,000 jobs, driven primarily by growth in female-dominated sectors like health care and education. The administration's policies aimed at promoting a male breadwinner model have failed to generate male employment, with women capturing over 100% of job gains even as overall growth remains modest.
Research shows that campaign messages can move both men and women by combining two elements: naming a real threat and providing a concrete response. While men typically respond to competitive framing and women to group cohesion, messages that pair danger with actionable solutions engage both genders equally, eliminating the need for separate appeals.