She Will Rise: Becoming a Warrior in the Battle for True Equality

by Katie Hill

Overview

Former Congresswoman Katie Hill shares her experience with misogyny and double standards in politics to help women topple the longstanding power structures that prevent them from achieving equality.


Powerful women who dare to make mistakes still face swifter and more brutal consequences than men, as the events that precipitated Congressional representative Katie Hill's resignation, in which she was the victim of revenge porn, clearly demonstrate. But Katie Hill does not want women to be discouraged from taking positions of power — in fact, the rampant misogyny we see is all the more reason for women to lead, to work to change the systems that have kept old, wealthy, white men in power for far too long.


In this book, to be published on the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment (which gave women the right to vote), Katie Hill looks back on the progress we've made and outlines her battle plan for our future. She details how we can overcome the obstacles holding women back from achieving equal representation in positions of power to create the change we want for the next century. What challenges do women face in the modern era, and what battles will we need to fight in the years to come? Katie Hill is ready to equip readers for the front lines of leadership in all arenas, to guide women in becoming the warriors we need to shape this country for the better.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538737002
Publisher:	Grand Central Publishing
Publication date:	08/11/2020
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Katie Hill wasn't yet thirty when she embarked on her run for Congress. By thirty-one, she had become not only a member of Congress but a member of congressional leadership. Soon, she was the subject of an HBO docuseries entitled She's Running, a frequent and ratings-generating cable news guest, and one of the Democratic Party's brightest rising stars. Her campaign attracted the support of dozens of celebrities, including Kristen Bell, Chelsea Handler, Alyssa Milano, and Chris Evans, and she managed to flip a Congressional seat under decades of Republican control. She was the first woman to hold the seat, and the first openly LGBTQ woman to be elected to Congress from California. She resigned from her position less than a year after entering Congress, following a scandal that began a national conversation around questions of bisexuality, domestic abuse, cyber exploitation, workplace power dynamics, and what happens when regular people who live regular lives run for office.

Table of Contents

Author's Note and Content Warning ix

Chapter 1 We Are Warriors 1

Chapter 2 Still in the Fight 21

Chapter 3 The Battles of Our Past 49

Chapter 4 Know Thy Enemy 75

Chapter 5 Battle for Money 89

Chapter 6 Battle for the Workplace 111

Chapter 7 Battle for Our Bodies 133

Chapter 8 Battle for Our Safety 157

Chapter 9 Battle at Home 183

Chapter 10 Battle Cry 215

Chapter 11 The Mission Plan 243

Acknowledgments 261

Notes 265

About the Author 305

Editorial Reviews

06/22/2020

Former Democratic congresswoman Hill interweaves the story of her own political rise and fall with a call for young women to “dismantle misogynistic institutions” and seek “positions of power” in her forthright and inspirational debut. In 2018, 31-year-old Hill flipped her California district from red to blue and became the first openly bisexual person from California, and one of the youngest women ever, to serve in Congress. In October 2019, a right-wing blog began publishing private photos and text messages in a series of articles alleging that Hill was having inappropriate sexual relationships with staff members. (Hill believes her ex-husband leaked the material; he claims he was hacked.) Hill details the abusive dynamics of her marriage, the thought process behind her resignation, the emotional distress she experienced as the scandal unfolded, and her current campaign against cyber-exploitation. She situates her experience in the context of “systemic roadblocks” faced by women, including income inequality, workplace harassment, and sexual violence, and calls on voters to battle misogyny by putting women “in charge.” A self-admitted “millennial lady nerd,” Hill lightens the mood with humor but doesn’t shy away from the darker aspects of her story, or to admitting fault. This unvarnished account turns a devastating setback into a powerful argument for change. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

07/01/2020

Hill (D-CA) was elected to Congress in 2019, winning a seat that was previously under decades of Republican control. She resigned later that year, after becoming a victim of cyber exploitation. After her resignation, Hill focused on empowering women to run for public office and raising awareness of misogynistic institutions. In this debut, she presents an overview of the ways in which sexism and ingrained gender roles have negatively impacted society in the United States. Next, she explores specific areas upon which women's empowerment efforts should focus, including money, workplace, bodies, safety, and home. For each area, Hill describes legislative history, current events, and calls to action going forward. Additionally, she incorporates moving stories from her own experiences, including her service in the House of Representatives, her relationship with her abusive ex-husband, and her decision to resign. Unfortunately, Hill gives only a cursory examination of how these issues affect marginalized communities. She ends with a call to elect more women to public office and encourages readers to take action. VERDICT An empowering introduction to key issues facing women; however, readers familiar with current events will be unlikely to discover new material. For readers interested in feminism and political activism.—Rebekah Kati, Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Library Journal

"So many of us feel disenchanted with the lack of gender equality in public office and high positions of power. We know that things feel imbalanced, but we don't know what to do about it. Katie has endured many trials and tribulations in her fight for this battle. Using her experience, she provides real answers and a roadmap toward equal representation in She Will Rise. This book serves as an inspiration and a utility tool for anyone who thinks the current system in which we operate needs to shift."—Kristen Bell, actor, activist

"A new wave of feminism needs new leaders. Katie Hill's She Will Rise recounts the brave and critical work of the feminists who got us to where we are today, and explains what we need to do next to achieve full equality, now that we have taken up the charge. For anyone concerned with finally having an equal society where women's voices are heard, this book is a must read."—Alyssa Milano, actor, producer, author, activist

"As we mark one hundred years since women earned the right to vote, we take pride in our progress and reflect on all the work left to do. She Will Rise is a brave and honest look at the structural inequities that hold women back and the pathways to break down those barriers and make deep, lasting societal change. Katie Hill lays out a vision for women's rights while interweaving her own personal story about building power, taking responsibility for mistakes, and moving forward."—Christine Pelosi, Chair of CA Democratic Party Women's Caucus

"As someone who has personally dealt with double standards in politics, I'm captivated by Katie's story. Even as men who have harassed and assaulted women walk the halls of Congress, Katie faced the ultimate double standard-being publicly shamed and forced to resign. What stands out most about Katie's story isn't the tragedy of what she endured, but the courage and resilience she showed in the aftermath. She Will Rise reflects that spirit and shows how, together, women can fight back and create a better and more equitable future."—Lis Smith, democratic strategist

"Katie Hill has taught us that the only way to build endurance is to endure. In She Will Rise, we learn about one unstoppable woman and also about the unstoppability of women."—Carrie Goldberg, victim's rights lawyer

"She Will Rise is a refreshingly honest assessment of the state of American women—both what she's overcome and what's standing in the way of progress. And Hill's personal story of triumph and tragedy will leave you angry, hopeful, and fired the f*ck up."—Erin Ryan, host of Hysteria podcast by Crooked Media, contributor to The Daily Beast

"This unvarnished account turns a devastating setback into a powerful argument for change."—Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher