Episode 54: Raising Your Hand and Finding Your Place with Jenna Arnold

Did you know that white women are one of the most influential demographics in America? They are the largest voting bloc, with purchasing power that exceeds any other demographic, and when they unify to demand change, they are a force to be reckoned with. Yet, so many sit idly on the sidelines, opting out of raising their hands to do, learn, and engage in ways that could make a difference. Why?

Well, in this episode, Jenna Arnold, the national organizer for the historic 2017 Women’s March, and author of, Raising Our Hands, shares the research and insights she gathered over the past few years criss-crossing the US in conversations with white women about their identity and role in the country. Jenna peels back the history that’s been kept out of textbooks and the cultural norms that are holding them back, so white women can finally start really listening to marginalized voices and doing their part to promote progress. Raising Our Hands is Jenna’s call to action for white women to stop avoiding the hard conversations, start accepting responsibility and find a place on the new frontlines.

 

Highlights:

[03:12] Jenna’s journey

[04:38] Writing “Raising Our Hands”

[12:29] What drives self-limiting beliefs

[22:38] Imposter syndrome

[29:26] Jenna’s biggest fear

[30:57] Where might our country be heading

[34:52] Why some struggle with acknowledging their privilege

[48:02] We have a duty to ourselves and to others

 

Quotes:

“Women are holding the keys to the Aston Martin, but they're asking whether or not they can drive.” – Jenna Arnold

“Women have the power, the capacity, and now, more so than ever, their voices are heard.” – Jenna Arnold

“Intentional invisibility is a symptom of women who are doing the work of laboring 4 to 10 times harder than their male counterparts. ” – Jenna Arnold

“The lesson I’ve learned on my journey is that you need to go now, speak now, tell them the idea right now, launch that idea right now.” – Jenna Arnold

“Our species depends on the power of you being part of the frontlines of this power shift that's happening.” - Jenna Arnold

“You're always a student on anything related to race, gender, class, ability.” - Jenna Arnold

“We need to take advantage of the exact moment we are in, where we are so connected and move forward and work on behalf of not only ourselves, but on behalf of everyone.” - Jenna Arnold

“Your vote in November could be the decision of life or death for people you’ll never know.” - Jenna Arnold

“Our grandmothers fought so hard for us to have the right to vote and the right to work or stay at home. What she didn't do is lower the bar of what that had to look like.” – Jenna Arnold

 

About Jenna Arnold:

Jenna Arnold is listed as one of Oprah’s “100 awakened leaders who are using their voices and talent to elevate humanity” because she doesn’t have much patience for the status quo. She has been called a “disruptor” in every industry in which she has dabbled from elementary school classrooms to halls of the United Nations, MTV, and the White House. For her recent work as one of the organizers of the Women’s March, Jenna was recognized with a Glamour Women of the Year award. The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Forbes, and Fast Company, to name a few, have recognized Jenna’s work as “shaking up long standing assumptions” and being one of “the biggest ideas in social change” for the work of ORGANIZE, a non-profit she co-founded focused on ending the waitlist for organ transplants in America, for which she was also named one of Inc. magazine’s “35 Under 35” list.

 

Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennaarnold/