Author: Laleh Ispahani

Laleh Ispahani is the executive director of Open Society-U.S., the U.S. component of the Open Society Foundations, a foundation dedicated to advancing justice, democratic governance, and human rights in the United States and globally. At Open Society, she oversees substantial investments aimed at advancing racial equality, inclusive democracy, and combatting hate in the U.S. She has special expertise in protecting and expanding the right to vote, ensuring that the internet remains an open and secure platform for free expression and civic participation, and democracy promotion. These days, she is heavily focused on work that protects the right to abortion and fights corporate consolidation of media and data. She lives in New York City with her delightful daughter.

So Goes Reproductive Freedom, So Goes Democracy

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When people consider what it means to be a democracy on the decline, plot points of the recent film Civil War come to mind: a U.S. president who disregards the Constitution to nab a third term. Crackdowns on dissent and the media. Leaders using the military to break up public demonstrations.

While that is, of course, representative of growing authoritarianism, recent history suggests that rollbacks on bodily autonomy and reproductive freedoms are also flashing red lights for would-be regimes. 

This essay is part of a Women & Democracy package focused on who’s funding the women and LGBTQ people on the frontlines of democracy. We’re manifesting a new era for philanthropy—one that centers feminism. The need is real: Funding for women and girls amounts to less than 2 percent of all philanthropic giving; for women of color, it’s less than 1 percent. Explore the “Feminist Philanthropy Is Essential to Democracy” collection.

Why I Want to Build a Better Democracy

As a young girl in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Iran, I never expected to be fighting for democracy in the United States.

We are linguistic and ethnic strangers, yet we are family and are at home in the United States. And we are one among many here. That spirit of welcome is the spirit that should propel us toward the new democracy we want—and need. It’s what should animate us as we build a new democracy that we can all call home.