Pantsuit Nation, a secret Facebook group created by mother of two Libby Chamberlain, grew to more than a million members as Hillary Clinton’s campaign reached the final stages heading into Election Day.

For Chamberlain, Pantsuit Nation’s purpose was to provide a safe space to express the possibility of having our first female president. The hashtag movement quickly evolved into women and men posting short stories just like Dr. Carmen Robinson’s, story.

Robinson, a family physician, faced the “angry black-woman stereotype” at the end of her medical residency rotation for Wake Forest.

Although Robinson received positive verbal feedback at the end of the rotation – the core director expressed she was too outspoken. She never felt so reduced to a stereotype.

“[The director] said that I out-talked and over-talked the other members of the team and didn’t know when it was my turn to speak and I was floored,” Robinson said. “There is an unfortunate stereotype of this angry-black woman and never have I felt this so strongly applied to me than at that moment, too loud, too aggressive and intimidating, little did I know. It’s not an isolated (event). It happens to women at all places, it happens to all women regardless of ethnicity.”

The young physician said that the Pantsuit Nation Facebook group has provided a space for women to express positivity and empowerment.

Throughout American history, pantsuits have been associated with women’s right to vote as far back as the 1850s when suffragist Amelia Bloomer adopted the garments.

According to professor and historian, Nancy Baker, PH.D., interim associate vice provost at Sam Houston State University,  the question “who wears the pants” equates to who holds the power and control.

Even though Clinton lost the election, her supporters promise to keep pushing forward.

“We need you now more than ever Hillary Clinton! Let’s fight harder than ever,” said Shannon Baker on Facebook. 

Not more than a few minutes after Shannon Baker posted, a Trump supporter responded in a profane way. Trolling has been a regular occurrence in Pantsuit Nation social media groups since Trump won the election, but the women are not deterred.

Getting Hillary Clinton elected president was the driving force behind Pantsuit Nation. Now that Donald Trump is the president-elect, after what many political pundits called a stunning upset, the group is a place for people like Robinson to heal.

“There are a few places you get diverse group of people,” Robinson said. “Where they come together – it’s all about uplifting one another, we’ve arrived to the conclusion that we are all the same on earth.”

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