American Maggie

1.  Why are you a conservative?

Growing up in a conservative home, I was taught the principles of conservative values—faith, personal responsibility, limited government, the centrality of the family, and the great blessing of being an American. However, it was not until college and starting the Network of enlightened Women (NeW) that I finally began to explore more deeply the meaning of conservatism.

When I started NeW, I realized my vague understanding of conservatism, its history, and its core principles. I realized I needed a better grasp of my beliefs, so I bought Russell Kirk’s The Conservative Mind, and immediately my eyes were opened to the meaning of conservatism, its rich history, and its important modern implication. I then read F.A. Hayek’s Road to Serfdom, and I was convinced of the need for a free market society. I realized that I was a conservative not because my parents were, but because I believed strongly in the foundational components of the ideology.

My conservative ideology rests upon my understanding of man’s human nature as flawed. Both fiscal and social conservatism are built on this knowledge.  I believe in personal initiative, competition, and personal responsibility.  Particularly as a conservative woman, I see the important distinction between equality of opportunity and equality of outcome, and the need for our laws to respect the biological differences between men and women.  My cultural views are built upon the ideals this country was founded upon: the family, the protection of life, and the importance of faith and values.

2.  When and why did you become interested in politics?

My family was always politically aware, so I couldn’t help but pay attention to the news and the political discussions at the dinner table.  However, I became increasingly interested in politics when I began the NeW chapter at the University of Florida.  Leading a group of culturally conservative women, I realized I needed a better understanding current events and issues, so I started paying attention on my own—reading the news, listening to political speeches, and even gearing my class schedule to allow for political enlightenment.

I recognized the important need for all Americans to be involved in the political process to some extent, whether it was running for office, working in public policy, or simply being an active and informed voter. During my internship at The Heritage Foundation in the summer of 2008, my love for politics grew when I realized I could influence the political process outside of simply running for office.  I saw the importance of working for a cause I deeply believed in, and this is what ultimately led me to work for NeW.

3.  What inspired you to start NeW – the Network for enlightened Women – at the University of Florida?

My dad heard about NeW when Karin Agness was on a radio show in 2006.  By the time he came home, he was so excited about me starting a NeW chapter at UF that he had all but signed me up.  I was hesitant to start an organization on campus, knowing my own feelings of political inadequacy and the liberal presence on campus.  But my dad, in his wisdom, encouraged me that the point was for culturally conservative women just like me to have an opportunity to come together and learn about the issues affecting them most. It wasn’t the knowledge we brought with us, he told me, but what we learned together.

I knew he was right, and NeW was the answer.  I was excited about the opportunity to meet women like me—women who were conservative by upbringing but desiring an outlet on the college campus to formulate their beliefs more strongly.  I had never before had a place on campus to talk about the political and cultural issues facing women, and NeW would provide that.

Looking back, my dad was more than right.  NeW provided and is still providing a forum for women at the University of Florida that encourages intellectual diversity, fosters education, and promotes the values of cultural conservatism.  Women can come together and talk about the issues affecting them, like the hookup culture and single-minded careerism, and be encouraged that others want to live by the same values.

4.  Can you comment on NeW’s significant growth over the past 5 years?

NeW started at UVA as one book club and has since spread to over 15 college campuses. Its growth is largely due to two things: the initiative and perseverance of Karin Agness and the void left on college campuses by second-wave feminism.

Karin knew culturally conservative women at the University of Virginia were not being heard, so she did something about it by starting NeW.  The book club format facilitated discussion about issues that women cared about from a perspective that was different from feminism. When others took notice and asked if they could start chapters, Karin worked to implement a system where chapters could be easily started on campuses across the country.  She worked for nearly five years with a limited budget while an undergraduate and law student to expand NeW to a national organization.

Karin is often asked why NeW has been so successful, and I think she wisely understands that no other organization has been singularly devoted to culturally conservative college women.  By addressing issues like the hook-up culture and single-minded careerism, NeW strikes a balance and appeals to a majority of women.  NeW recognizes the empty claims of feminism and provides a positive response. NeW is a woman’s organization that encourages women in their individual spheres to hold true to their values and to pursue their passions—something that many modern campus women’s groups simply do not.

5.  Do you think NeW’s growth across college campuses over the past 5 years is symbolic of a broader movement among women? If so, why?

NeW’s growth is symbolic of American women’s shifting away from second wave feminism. I see this on both a national level and on the campus level.

Despite having more choices than ever before, women’s happiness has declined over the last 35 years. Women are waking up and recognizing that the claims of second wave feminism have proved empty.  Most women do not find happiness solely in a career and are negatively affected by a casual attitude towards sex.  NeW has found that so many young women want to talk about these issues.

One such example of the trend of women moving towards cultural conservatism can be evidenced at my alma mater.  At the University of Florida, the NeW has grown to an active gathering of 30 women at each meeting. They host speakers, perform service projects, and have become a strong network of culturally conservative women.  In contrast, the National Organization for Women campus chapter at UF, one of the first in the country with a long history of activism, has recently dissolved. This is one example of a greater national trend of women moving away from feminist ideologies of sexual liberation, single-minded careerism, and gender neutrality to a more culturally conservative worldview.

6.  Who are your mentors and why?

As a past chapter president, I worked closely with Karin Agness. Her dedication to NeW, young women, and the fostering of cultural conservatism daily inspires me.  Karin’s own life is a great example of what one looks like when they embrace who they are as a woman. She has pursued her dream of becoming a lawyer, as she recently graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law. Yet as ambitious as she is, she does not adhere to the current feminist school of thought.  Never once has she embraced the victimhood mentality that so many women currently hide behind, but she takes pride in her femininity.  She has worked incredibly hard in school and beyond, all the while maintaining her values and fighting for them.

As well during my summer internship at The Heritage Foundation, I was privileged to meet and get to know incredible female leaders in this country, many of whom receive far less credit than they deserve for the advances they are making.  I had the privilege of working for Bridgett Wagner and Becky Norton Dunlop, two women who have done incredible things for the conservative movement and mentor young leaders every day.  As an intern, both of these women treated me as a valuable part of their team.  I had the opportunity to meet with them, hear about their stories, and see why they felt so strongly about working for the conservative movement.

Also during my internship, I was mentored by Rebecca Hagelin, a champion of the pro-family movement. What struck me most about her success was how she had consistently put her family first, despite working with dedication for the conservative movement for over 20 years.

7.  Who do you believe is the most inspiring group in politics today?

Conservative women have an important role to play in politics today.  Women have an opportunity to rise up and fight for the causes that many are simply ignoring.  I have seen so many women both in office and out of office championing bravely the fundamental values our nation was founded upon.  As a young woman, I believe my generation has a chance to be a key player in upcoming elections and policy debates.  I have seen through my involvement with NeW, that many young women have something to say and want to be heard. I hope conservative women today will fight with the same integrity and principle as the women that Phyllis Schlafly inspired in the Equal Rights debate.

8.  What is the book that you would recommend every conservative woman should read?

Donald Critchlow’s biography Phyllis Schlafly and Grassroots Conservatism revolutionized how I viewed the role of conservative women in the political process.  Phyllis Schlafly inspired thousands of traditional housewives, many who were not educated, to lobby against the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in the 1970’s and early 1980’s. She opposed the measure on the grounds that it would disrupt family institutions and traditional gender roles, while simultaneously expanding the role of the federal government.

What I find most compelling about Schlafly and her leadership is that she appealed to these women on the basis of their common identity and encouraged these women to embrace their femininity and their traditional values.  These housewives worked tirelessly to stop the Equal Rights Amendment from being added to the US Constitution. How did they do it? Quite simply and very traditionally: with hospitality.  They would take homemade bread and baked goods to their legislators while they lobbied against the ERA.  They were ultimately successful in convincing legislators of the negative implications of the ERA for American families. I believe Schlafly’s counter to the ERA laid the groundwork for future generations of conservative women to embrace their values while simultaneously fighting actively for conservative principles.

9.  What is the best advice you’ve ever received and that you would pass along to other conservative women?

When I worked for Becky Norton Dunlop, she daily encouraged her interns to “be principled.”  As conservative women, we should seek to live up to this challenge.  As women, we should embrace the principle of being feminine.  As we all affect our various spheres of influence—the political realm, the home, the corporate world, the office, or the classroom—we should encourage one another to pursue our passions.  We have all been gifted in different ways, and whatever way we choose to serve, we should be governed by the principles of hard work, honesty, and service.

As conservatives, we ought to live out the principles we espouse—the values of personal responsibility, faith, the family, and moral integrity.  We should take great comfort in living by principles that existed long before we were born.  These principles should challenge us daily to live with attitudes that extend beyond ourselves.

10.  Can you tell us the most inspiring moment or story you’ve experienced since starting NeW?

For me, every moment of my involvement of NeW has been inspiring—my own political growth, the success stories of individual conservative women across the country, and the growth of NeW on the national level.  However, I think I’ve been most inspired to see how NeW at the University of Florida has grown.

I say this not as any credit of my own, because as many can attest, I felt very inadequate in starting an organization on campus. So NeW at the University of Florida was not so much an outgrowth of my efforts but of those around me.  I was blessed with several key factors: good friends to start the chapter with and encourage me in the process, parents who wisely saw how great this opportunity was, and Karin Agness to provide the framework for this group.

I felt alone at UF during my freshman year. I could not challenge the statements of my liberal professors or classmates for fear they would attack my arguments. I stayed quiet and contributed to the silent majority on campus.  NeW provided a forum for so many women like me to articulate their viewpoints and take that knowledge back to the classroom.

Over three years, NeW has grown to 30 members at UF.  All of the founders have graduated, but the chapter continues to grow and thrive. This is a great testimony to the mission of NeW: fostering the education and leadership of culturally conservative women and filling a void on campus.  Women have an opportunity to come together and talk about the issues affecting them from a perspective not offered on the college campus. And daily, I hear similar success stories from NeW chapters across the country. True enlightenment is inspiring.