SHASTA COUNTY, Calif. — Since August 26 is Women’s Equal Justice Day, we asked the Shasta Equal Justice Coalition how they are working to strengthen women’s rights.

The SEJC hosted its first Women’s Panel in March 2024, bringing together a group of Shasta County women who hold elected or appointed positions.

Her team told us that the closed meeting took place after they noticed a trend of bullying and harassment against women, particularly in leadership positions.

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A coordinator of the SEJC, Sharon Brisolara, said this happened through social media as well as during public meetings.

“It undermines women’s authority, even when they hold positions of power and have been elected or appointed to those positions,” Brisolara said. “It can affect their ability to be heard or to have their cause or organization heard. It also has a chilling effect on people who identify as women and want to speak in public bodies.”

During the meeting, participants shared their personal experiences with gender inequality. Brisolara told us that this included comments about women’s appearance and suggestions that they were unqualified for their roles.

The women then suggested possible solutions, such as raising awareness of the problem and documenting cases of bullying and harassment.

With the upcoming election season in mind, the coalition plans to bring local women together again to talk about ways to make women feel safer at public gatherings.

For more information about the Shasta Equal Justice Coalition, visit their website at shastaequaljustice.org.