"We have to stay positive, keep moving forward and keep trying. The issue that bothers me the most is that women don't get paid the same as men. It is based on a stereotype that women don't perform in their job as well as men. But that just isn't true." - Lea Adams
Michelle Medina
"I'm looking for the silver lining. People are so polarized right now that maybe the outcome of the election will help us come together. It is the unknowns that scare me but I hope I am surprised in a good way. Let's not feel like something has been taken away from us." - Michelle Medina
Eva Golinger
Samantha Galente
"Hopefully everyone else in Congress can keep him in control and not let him start a violent war. I will do the best I can do to be the best I can be and not let Donald Trump negatively effect me." - Samantha Galente
Gerda Vellore
"We have to accept the outcome of the election, move forward and keep fighting. Hopefully he will exceed our expectations." - Gerda Vellore
Andi Schreiber
"I spoke with my sons this morning. They are sad about the outcome of the election and they also always pick up what we are feeling. I really believe that change starts close to home. Now is the time for acts of kindness and introspection and finding ways to lift ourselves and everyone else up. We need to open our hearts more, even if we really don't feel like doing it today, we need to." - Andi Schreiber
Sally Kopstein
"I just got married last year. It's a gay marriage. I was at an event last night at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center and Edie Windsor was there. (United States v. Winsor) She really made it happen here. Things have changed so much about being openly gay." - Sally Kopstein
Nancy Shamban
"As a woman, what stands out as memorable is the first time I had sex with a man - and then also the first time I had sex with a woman. I imagine if I were a man these would have been very different experiences." - Nancy Shamban
Aruna Hollingshead
"I am fortunate that I am able to follow in my father's footsteps and actively participate in political events." - Aruna Hollingshead, who was born in SriLanka, is retired Canadian who took the train to NYC to volunteer for Hillary Clinton's Campaign.
Marlene Reisman
"I worked as a Human Resources executive at a company that had mostly male employees. Because I am understanding, the men felt comfortable coming to discuss with me their work issues. Being understanding helped me succeed in this role. I think if I hadn't been a woman, I would not have had as much career success." - Marlene Reisman is a retired human resources executive.
Jory Des Jardins
"At first the whole blogging world was very male dominated, so the whole impetus behind starting Blogher, was that we were women, we knew our audience. It turned out to be a big advantage to know what women wanted and how they were using blogging and using the internet. Being a woman turned out pretty good for me." - Jory Des Jardins is the co-founder of Blogher and the co-founder of Virago, a stategic advisory firm for female entrepreneurs.
Elaine Boxer
"When I was in college I joined an all female singing group. They were more than sorority to me, they inspired me. Being part of that group made me really proud to be female." - Elaine Boxer is a business consultant and owner of Voila Chocolat.
Billie Madley
"There's a consciousness about this election that is driving me and awakening parts of me I didn't even realize needed awakening. I have always been aware of feminist issues and was instrumental in launching the current burlesque movement. The sexiness about performance is also about women's power, beauty and artistry. There is a strength about women's sexuality, and burlesque is about artistic heroism." - Billie Madley is an actor, burlesque instructor and activist who pledged to wear her "Voting" clothing everyday from September - Nov 8th.
Randi Zuckerberg
"When I worked at Facebook, I was often the only woman in the room. I would set up meetings via email and when I showed up in person I could tell that people were visibly disappointed when they realized "Randi" was a woman, not a man. This experience gave me the empathy, motivation and passion to launch Zuckerberg Media so that I can produce shows and books about smart, tech savvy girls." - Randi Zuckerberg just launched the show Dot on Sprout and the book Missy President.
Jennifer Jenkins
" I used to be really shy. I think because I'm a woman I'm more approachable and people would talk to me. It really helped to break me out of my shell and now I am very social." - Jennifer Jenkins being Prince on Halloween.
Aisha Barnes
"I got a golf scholarship to Hampton University. I'm lucky I'm a woman because it would have been much more competitive to get a golf scholarship if I were a man. I still have my golf clubs with my name on them, they're sitting in my kitchen" - Aisha Barnes was a zombie princess on Halloween.
Rachel Smith
"I worked as a waitress for a long time. Male customers expect you to be lovely, adorable, delightful and they like it when you are sassy because they interpret sassy as flirtatious. Sassy can bring in big tips." - Rachel Smith is a content strategist at PLASTARC.
Jamie Lee
"I was having cocktails with a group of women and one commented about how she hated her job and that she was underpaid. A friend answered, "If you are good at what you do, you can always ask for more. There's always more in the budget." That was the comment that made me want to teach women about negotiating." - Jamie Lee is a consultant with She Negotiates.
Tanya Taylor Rubinstein
"I grew up as a white waspy insider. But being a woman, and being fatherless, I always felt like an outsider. I wouldn't have found my purpose in life to help others tell their stories if I hadn't had the experience of feeling marginalized." - Tanya Taylor is storytelling coach and the founder and CEO of The Global School of Story. Tanya is also a survivor of sexual abuse.
Kayla Gerdes
"People don't see prison as a woman's issue. They also don't see the oppression that women experience in prison and that women experience as leaders of criminal justice reform. I was in prison from 18-23 years of age. If I hadn't had this experience I may not have found my strength. I don't regret going to prison, because of prison I am going to change the world." - Kayla Gerdes is an advocate with LifetoLife LLC and a council member of the National Council For Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls. Kayla is also a survivor of childhood sexual abuse.