The week in patriarchy: it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and paralyzed | Jessica Valenti

In moments when I dont know what do – when Im too tired to think about what comes next – I reach out to those who are doing what I wish I could

Ive been thinking a lot about how we can find time to rest when it feels like theres no space or opportunity for anything but constant outrage and careful attention to whats happening in politics.

If we log off for a few hours, another national emergency crops up. When we sleep, the president of the United States tweets something out that could send us into a political tailspin. How do we get the work done needed to stop this administration when there is never any time to stop working and take stock of what to do next?

I know Im not the only person who feels paralyzed by the sheer amount of awful rotting through our country at the moment. Ive spoken to seasoned activists – people who have been doing this work for decades – who describe being more burned out than ever before. So take some comfort, I suppose, that you are far from alone.

In moments when I dont know what do – when Im too tired to think about what comes next – I reach out to those who are doing what I wish I could. Give money to a local organization, if you have money to give. Send some supportive words to an activist who you think could use them. At this point, even the small acts of kindness and resistance mean something. Hold on to them.

Glass Half Full

Far more Americans are pro-choice than the Republicans would like us to believe: a new poll from the Center for Reproductive Rights shows that most Americans think abortion should be legal and accessible – and that they would support Congress passing a federal law protecting that right.

What Im RTing

Kara Swisher (@karaswisher)

Were you forced into electroshock therapy? No? Were you thrown out of your family? No? Did you lose custody of kids? No? Beaten? #forshame https://t.co/9xid1Xtlqc

August 18, 2017

Ava DuVernay (@ava)

Mr. Coates explains for all who need an explanation. pic.twitter.com/Luh7IJJEnr

August 18, 2017

Reductress (@Reductress)

Woman Who Regrets Voting for Trump Still Pretty Racist: https://t.co/j0F5P9EcGJ pic.twitter.com/sVeyGKrq7A

August 18, 2017

Jenna //\\ Wortham (@jennydeluxe)

“Syllabus for White People to Educate Themselves” — blessed be a crowdsourced Google doc https://t.co/aAXqRvkXaP

August 15, 2017

Who Im reading

Jill Filipovic at The New York Times on Trump, Clinton and sexual harassment; Taylor Harris with a beautiful but heartbreaking piece about talking to her young daughter about Charlottesville and Rachel Kaadzi Ghansah with an incredible piece of reporting on the making of terrorist Dylann Roof.

What Im writing

Over at Marie Claire, Im taking on the myth that things will just go back to normal once Trump is out of office.

How outraged I am

On a scale of one to ten, James Cameron saying that the Wonder Woman movie was regressive has me at a meh-level five because who cares what director who once called his star Kate Weighs-a-lot thinks.

How Im making it through this week

I visited a pygmy goat farm on Wednesday. If you cant see one in person, I highly recommend at least watching how cute these guys can be.

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