After the wildly successful Women’s March on Washington D.C. this past Saturday, women everywhere are asking, “now what?” Well, the reality is that we have a President, Vice President, and a whole cabinet of members who don’t believe in and/or openly oppose women’s rights. Additionally, we’re on the cusp of one of the greatest blows to women’s healthcare rights since 2014, when 27 anti-choice measures were passed in different states around the U.S. It’s up to us, the women and women’s allies of America, to take a stand and fight for what is right just as the strong advocates for equal rights did before us.

1. Practice Assertiveness

As difficult as it is in today’s society, with tons of negative connotations of strong women, it is important to practice assertiveness. Being assertive does not necessarily mean being “aggressive,” it simply means that you are asking for the same rights and respect that men receive by default.

a. Do not let people interrupt you when you are speaking. It’s not rude to want to finish your sentence in a conversation. It is rude for someone to talk over you. If you ever find yourself in a situation where someone relentlessly talks over you, it is not rude to stop them simply by saying, “I was speaking,” or “please do not speak over me.” Don’t forget that it is not rude to ask for the same respect that you are giving to another person.

b. In addition to that, express your opinions without apologies. You have the right to your feelings and opinions. Additionally, you have the right to express them. Don’t apologize for talking about politics, policies, ideas or opinions that you agree or disagree with. You have a voice, and it’s up to you to use it.

c. Mind your body language. It’s important to not use body language that makes you look weak. In order to look, and feel, more confident, you should actively maintain good posture, keep your arms uncrossed and open, maintain eye contact with whoever you are talking to, and make sure your body stance perpetuates openness.

2. Get Involved

Over the next four years, it will be more important than ever for us to get out and get involved in our communities. Public officials are elected to represent your wants. This means that – yes – the government’s literal job is to take into consideration your interests and do the best that they can to implement them.

a. Reach out to your elected officials. Call, email, write letters, and visit your local officials. It is their job to make time to meet with their constituents because it is their job to represent their constituents. The more that citizens come to officials with their concerns, the more that representatives listen. Never underestimate the power of the people.

b. Join community activist groups. There are tons of nation-wide organizations who have branches in most major cities and who work hard to ensure justice for all. There are also organizations who are affiliated with colleges all over the nation who focus primarily on political activism. Joining organizations like these will aid in the constant fight for equality.

c. Attend rallies, marches and programs in your community. Often times, politics are a numbers game. So much of the time, citizens aren’t taken seriously because of the fact that people don’t turn out. There is power in people where there is power in numbers. It’s imperative that you simply show up.

3. Change Your Mentality

There is so much importance in coming together as a community for the next four years. You may feel hopeless now, but there is no time for that. Now is our time to stand up and fight for equal rights, once and for all.

a. Try to not pit women against each other. A problem that so many of us face – myself included – is comparing ourselves to other girls or pitting women against each other. Women already face constant ridicule from men; let’s participate in some #GirlPower, and make sure that we are there and acting as a support for our fellow women. In the end, we’re all on the same team.

b. Realize that the main problem here is inequality. And this is a problem that affects everybody – not just women. The issue with gender inequality is that people think feminism is just for women. The reality is that men suffer due to gender inequality as well.

c. Look at America’s problems as opportunities to get better. Now isn’t the time to get down and to feel like it’s hopeless to even try. Without resistance, women wouldn’t have the right to vote, the right to healthcare, the right to an education, and the right to the same pursuits that men engage in every day. These issues that America is facing are only opportunities to create change that will last for generations to come. These are opportunities to create her/history.

d. Get ready to work. While there is so much to be done, there is also so much support for feminism. The Women’s March on Washington was the largest protest in U.S. her/history. If everybody does our part to help equal the playing field, and if the stamina doesn’t die down from the march, it will be easier to lobby for what is right.

As we celebrate the successes of the Women’s March on Washington, let us also look forward to the triumphs that are to come and the work that we will collectively do to get to those triumphs. Every day is an opportunity to make a change in the world.