Silencing Women and Civil Rights: What March 2025 Revealed
From the series First They Came for the Calendar
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During Women’s History Month, the administration didn’t just ignore progress—it attacked the structures that made it possible.
March is Women’s History Month.
A time to honor those who fought for rights they were never guaranteed.
A time to teach the stories that shaped legal, social, and educational access for half the population.
But in 2025, Women’s History Month brought no such honoring.
Instead, it became a window of strategic reversal.
In March, the Trump administration escalated its campaign to dismantle civil rights infrastructure—targeting women, educators, and the legal systems designed to protect them.
What should have been a celebration became an assault on the very people and institutions that made progress possible.
What Happened in March 2025
EEOC Declared Some DEI Practices “Illegal”
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, now under Trump-aligned leadership, issued a warning that some diversity programs—particularly those that prioritize demographic representation or mentorship—may violate federal discrimination law.
The chilling effect was immediate.
Companies began suspending ERGs, mentorship tracks for women and people of color, and inclusive hiring efforts.
Source: Reuters →
DOJ Pressured the ABA to Suspend Its Diversity Rule
The Department of Justice, led by Attorney General Pam Bondi, threatened the American Bar Association: remove your law school diversity accreditation requirement—or lose federal recognition.
The ABA caved, placing its rule (Standard 206) on hold until 2026.
This rule had required law schools to demonstrate meaningful efforts to promote diversity.
Its suspension effectively lowered the bar for exclusion.
Source: Reuters →
Teacher Training Programs Were Targeted for Elimination
The administration filed a brief asking the U.S. Supreme Court to allow cuts to federal teacher training programs—even though lower courts had ruled them unlawful.
These cuts would eliminate funding for programs that support teachers in high-need subjects (like STEM), especially those serving diverse and underserved communities.
The administration argued these programs were biased because of their equity focus.
Source: Politico →
EO 14173 Enforcement Deepened
Under Executive Order 14173, which revoked civil rights protections in federal contracting, women-owned businesses saw their inclusion metrics stripped from procurement processes.
No more incentives for equitable participation.
No more obligations to level the field.
What the THX Frameworks Reveal
12 Utilities Undermined
The 12 Utilities measure whether an experience is useful, functional, and fair. In March we lost:
Clarity – Educators, legal professionals, and employers were left unsure what is allowed, what is funded, and what is forbidden
Security – Women in male-dominated spaces saw legal safeguards evaporate
Accuracy – Teacher training, DEI programs, and civil rights rules were falsely framed as “discriminatory”
Value – The worth of equity-focused institutions and programs was openly questioned
PERMAH Disrupted
PERMAH outlines the elements of human flourishing:
Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Achievement, Health
Meaning – Women’s History Month was stripped of its relevance by the government’s actions
Achievement – Programs that had lifted women into law, leadership, and education were slashed or silenced
Relationships – Mentorship programs and ERGs—the relational backbone of workplace equity—were undermined or ended
Admiration Equation Undone
This month should inspire gratitude for trailblazers, awe at the progress women have made, and respect for those who continue the fight.
But admiration requires visibility.
And this March, we didn’t see visibility.
We saw vilification.
Women weren’t honored for their role in law, education, and equity.
They were made targets within it.
Prospect Theory in Action
This wasn’t a failure to advance.
It was the painful loss of what had already been gained—of access, recognition, and basic protections.
When that loss is timed to land in a month meant for celebration, it cuts deeper.
It sends a message: “We don’t just oppose your progress. We’ll erase your right to name it.”
Call It What It Is
This wasn’t about constitutional clarity.
It was a deliberate campaign to reduce opportunity—especially for women, educators, and civil rights advocates.
The timing wasn’t unfortunate.
It was calculated.
The cruelty isn’t random.
It’s strategic.
🔜 Next: April – Abandoning Autism
Because just one month later, even children and researchers were not spared.
