BIFP: A Year in Review

2020 was a momentous year for the Bipartisan Feminist Project. Since its launch in January, BIFP has charged full speed ahead, broadening its audience and laying the groundwork for change. Here’s how BIFP advanced bipartisan feminism in 2020:

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New Chapters:

Perhaps the most tangible way to measure BIFP’s expansion is the growth of its chapters. 2020 saw the formation of thirteen BIFP chapters in areas across the globe, ranging from New York and New Jersey to Utah and Italy. Four new chapters — located in Astero, Florida; Westport, Connecticut; Maplewood, New Jersey; and the Bay Area of California — are currently in development. BIFP chapters discuss and address local women’s issues such as street harassment in New York City and discriminatory dress codes in rural Italy through the lens of bipartisanship. The Expansion Committee has spearheaded the establishment of these chapters, conducting outreach to high schools and partnering with other organizations to disseminate BIFP’s message.

The “Bridging the Divide” Podcast:

In December, BIFP launched its first podcast, entitled “Bridging the Divide.” The podcast aims to encourage discussions about gender equality and dissolve the partisan gap in the feminist movement while highlighting diverse perspectives on women’s issues. BIFP has since released three episodes: the first provides an introduction to BIFP, the second features the opinions of BIFP members and their families, and the third discusses Kamala Harris’s vice presidency. The podcast is the latest project launched by the Advocacy Team, which seeks to raise awareness and provide education about bipartisan feminism. You can listen to “Bridging the Divide” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Anchor, and other platforms.

Workshops:

Workshops have been central to BIFP’s expansion. In 2020, BIFP launched two flagship workshops: "The Path to Inclusion" and The Bipartisan Advocacy Program. Both workshops aim to educate students on the history of the feminist movement and teach students how to advocate for bipartisan pro-women legislation. The programs drew a large audience with over 150 students in attendance. BIFP is already creating new workshops for 2021; in early January, BIFP leaders met with Her Flowers, an anti-racist youth organization, and discussed how polarization has made it difficult for social justice movements to reach beyond their source. BIFP and Her Flowers are currently discussing plans for a new workshop that aims to bridge the partisan divide in order to achieve real progress in both the feminist and anti-racist movements. In mid-March, BIFP will also be hosting a webinar featuring a panel of speakers from across the political aisle to find middle-ground within social justice issues.

Political Action:

In August, BIFP launched our Political Action Committee, which works with legislators to develop bipartisan pro-women legislation. The Committee met with a panel of state legislators in December and presented their idea for a Youth Gender Commission, or a student advisory board that ensures that legislators develop pro-women laws that align with youth interests. The first Youth Gender Commission will be established in Bronx County in 2021. The Committee also worked with state legislators and the New York Department of Higher Education to develop recommendations for an amendment to the Enough is Enough Act, which provides guidelines for responses to sexual assault on college campuses. The proposed amendment would set adjudication standards to minimize survivor trauma and provide more funding to the New York State Education Department for enforcement. The Political Action Committee recently created a petition for the Enough is Enough Act amendment that has garnered over 300 signatures. You can sign it here!