How Trump 2.0 and Project 2025 will impact women’s careers, according to Mama Lawyer

If there is one important takeaway from the 2024 presidential election, it is that there is a rapidly widening gender gap in the United States. The divide was especially pronounced among the youngest voters, with Trump winning by a large 14 percentage points among 18- to 29-year-olds, but Kamala Harris’ 18-point victory among young women. It was almost reversed by a huge point victory. This politically and culturally complex election appears to have served as a litmus test. It reflects how men and women view this country and, more importantly, their place in the future.

At a time when women’s health care and rights are at stake, much of the focus was instead on economic stability, national security, and identity politics in a race that could have produced the first female president. did. As we grapple as a nation with polarized views on issues like abortion and young women’s health care, the risks feel all the more personal. Particularly, these results come at a time when women are outpacing men in areas such as college admissions, graduation, and home ownership, and as Scott Galloway notes, this election is an important one for both men and women. It showed that the disparity is now a chasm.

Faced with the growing threat of Project 2025 and the prospect of complete Republican control, many women are increasingly concerned that this election marks the beginning of a zero-sum game. The question on many people’s minds is what this means for women’s progress, opportunities and career prospects in the long and complex fight for gender equality.

“Mama Tawny”

Daphne Delvaux has dedicated her career to fighting for women’s futures and opportunities. As an employment litigator, she is used to supporting women at moments when their futures seem to be at stake. In 2021, she founded a first-of-its-kind law firm dedicated solely to protecting the rights of working mothers. Recognizing that the most important challenge facing women is accessing the right information, her platform ‘The Mamattorney’ leverages knowledge and resources on workplace rights to support women at every stage of their journey to motherhood. The aim is to empower women through By addressing questions and live news stories, she hopes to dispel the “myriad misinformation about motherhood” surrounding the rapidly changing regulatory, political and cultural landscape.

So, as we face the era of Trump 2.0 and the salient threats of Project 2025, how do we view these risks and realities? What are we doing to protect women’s careers? I spoke to Delvaux to find out why he’s determined to do more. fight back.

Trump 2.0, Project 2025: Fear

Delvaux said that while these times may seem turbulent, the reality is that there have never been easier times to litigate women’s employment cases. She has had a front row seat to the deeply felt effects of the motherhood gap and the systemic bias mothers face when it comes to balancing career and family. Her saving grace, she says, is that as a lawyer, she only deals with facts. Amidst the political and media frenzy surrounding Trump 2.o and the highly controversial Project 2025, established facts are few and far between.

She believes that noise and the fear it causes are counterproductive. Rather, she wants us to remember that this is a further setback in what she calls “a long, relentless generational struggle for gender equality that has already turned the tide with the reversal of Roe v. Wade.” . She explores how the politicization of reproductive rights is negatively impacting women, reaching far beyond the walls of the home and hospital, affecting their economic security, career opportunities, and economic independence. I’m pointing out the dolphins.

Trump 2.0, Project 2025: Facts

Delvaux instead wants women to focus on the facts and assess the clear risks we face. What she sees as a pressing risk to women’s career advancement is the dismantling of the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) agenda. Data shows that this has a positive impact on women’s career growth by promoting flexibility, equal opportunities for advancement, and resources for women. Balancing work and family. These programs, she argues, are essential to not only improving workplace culture but also serving as cultural catalysts that extend far beyond the boundaries of individual companies and states. The Republicans’ promised intent to dismantle the DEI framework will be further exacerbated by plans that have been a centerpiece of the Trump campaign, returning regulation to the local level.

A classic example is when conservative states challenge the Pregnant Worker Fairness Act, while progressive states maintain protections and leave decisions to companies. “This will be very problematic for mothers’ employment rights,” said Delvaux. “The lack of harmonization of these laws will further exacerbate the equality gap. , some mothers will be kept in conditions of considerable isolation, while others will be exposed to very different circumstances, left vulnerable and unprotected,” and regulations. ”

The PWFA is just one piece of federal employment law at risk. Others include the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, the Pregnant Worker Fairness Act, the Provision of Emergency Maternal Protection for Nursing Mothers (PUMP) Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and the Equal Pay Act. There is.

Beyond legislative influence, the politicization of DEI and gender risks triggering profound cultural shifts by setting new standards, expectations, and influence on society’s values ​​and behaviors. Delvaux gave the example of parental leave and paternity leave, where in the absence of federal legislation, we were beginning to see open dialogue about change and commitment at the corporate level. Through the advocacy work of organizations like Moms First and Chamber of Mothers. They have emphasized that enabling better support for working parents is a win-win in increasing productivity and employee satisfaction. Reversing the trend away from family-friendly workplaces will have significant economic implications for workers, especially women. There is a real risk of resetting the clock, not just for a four-year political term, but for an entire generation of working mothers.

Why knowledge is power

I asked Delvaux how, given the magnitude of the problem, we can resist the temptation to despair. Her advice to women is that knowledge is always the greatest power. She explains that while policies have been slow, the biggest threat women face is often their own fear. Many of the women she represented did not fully understand their protections and made decisions based on misconceptions. She cites as an example the number of women who quit their jobs during infertility treatment. Recent research shows that an astonishing 93% of women feel that infertility has had a negative impact on their career, and 70% of women use sick leave to support their career. It became clear that there was. “Many women and employers do not know that infertility is legally considered a disability and protected by fertility rights,” she says. ”

Instead, Delvaux’s hope is that all women know that they have rights, that their stories matter, and that their outcomes are important to them and to the next generation of young women. The goal is to make people aware of its significance in shaping policies and decisions. In the face of adversity, women should not be consumed by fear, but should seek transparency. She wants women to know that while it may seem more frightening than ever, there has never been a more critical time for women to exercise their rights in the workplace. Masu. Because what women stand to lose in the short term is that this election has turned into a culture war that could quickly be dominated by fear and intimidation.

The battle ahead

So, as we look to the horizon, Delvaux urges women not to panic and to plan. Her message is clear. The battle isn’t over yet. Now more than ever, women must be heard, informed and united in their pursuit of equality. The stakes have never been higher, but as she says, “The most powerful tool we have is knowing what’s right in front of us and what’s available to us.” It’s about knowing what you have rights to. I’m not saying it’s perfect. It’s often not perfect, but knowledge is power.” Therefore, we fight for more rights. , let’s use what we have and protect it. ”