Fascism has come to America and the threat to women is immeasurable.
By Dee Jae Cox
“When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.” …Sinclair Lewis
This famous quote is credited to early twentieth century author, Sinclair Lewis, in reference to his 1935 novel, “It Can’t Happen Here.” The Quote is used to warn of extremist political movements that would mask themselves in American Nationalism and Fundamentalist Christianity.
Century International’s, New Democracy Meter shows that America took a significant Authoritarian turn in 2025. The Century Foundation’s 2025 evaluation found that American democracy is collapsing—the Democracy Meter rates the United States at 57/100. This is a 28 percent drop in just one year. Demonstrated by breaking the law, ignoring court rulings, engaging in grand corruption, targeting critics for persecution, executive overreach, bypassing Congress, eliminating checks and balances, violating civil rights of American citizens and immigrants.
Fascism is an authoritarian, far-right, ultranationalist political ideology, characterized by dictatorial power and forcible suppression of opposition.
Theocracy is a rule by religious authority. They overlap in their authoritarianism, which creates oppressive, totalitarian states that may prosper for the Oligarchs, but not the average citizen. It is common for fascist movements to co-op religion in order to gain legitimacy and control.
A very real and significant impact of fascism is the subjugation of women. The common belief of autocrats and theocrats is that women are good for one purpose, to serve men and are to remain in a subservient role. Women are pressured to have more children, stay in the home and not pursue education or careers. This form of government also eliminates reproductive rights by outlawing abortion and birth control, as well as removing any economic independence, forcing women to remain dependent on men, and often in miserable and abusive relationships.
Diminishing reproductive rights have resulted in the U.S. having the highest maternal mortality rate among developed countries.
Federal and GOP State level bills have proposed laws that would require the tracking of women’s pregnancies, miscarriages and stillborn births. (A page right out Nazi Germany and the Handmaids Tale, handbook.)
Since the loss of women’s reproductive rights in America, sixteen states have begun criminalizing women for pregnancy loss. Charging women for miscarriages and stillbirths under the concept of “fetal personhood.” Some states, such as Texas, are proposing bills to charge women with homicide, if they leave their state and have an abortion in another state where the procedure is legal.
Fascists reject all ‘liberal’ ideas of equality, such as immediately destroying all Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs in the government.
Historically, heterosexual, white males have held the most advantages in the hierarchy of government, education, career pursuits and business. DEI programs were established to assist with providing opportunities for a broader segment of the population, such as women and non-white men.
Secretary of War, Hegseth, who has made it abundantly clear that he believes women make the military weaker, is an avid supporter of Pastor Douglas Wilson. Wilson, openly and enthusiastically supports the repeal of the Nineteenth Amendment, granting women the right to vote. Wilson’s church does not allow women to hold leadership positions. He has openly advocated for the return to a “patriarchal” system of voting, allowing only men to exercise that right.
An extreme and dangerous segment of MAGA has emerged in the form of the “Manosphere.” Driven by an online collection of blogs, websites and forums, this movement promotes blatant misogyny, which is sometimes violent, and insists that men are the oppressed gender because of feminism.
Members of this misogynistic community firmly believe that women are not equal to men and resent any power women hold. Some even glorifying rape and subjugation of women. None of this has been disavowed by Republican leaders, who understand and accept that these young men are a segment of their base.
Fascism has come to America. It has wrapped itself in Christian Nationalism and misogyny. It threatens the mental, physical and spiritual health of all women. This ideology thrives on dividing women. Through unity, perseverance and exercising our Constitutional rights under the Nineteenth Amendment, American women can and will prevail.
