The best ways to get involved if you’re new to activism

For many women, Donald Trump’s presidential victory has provided an unprecedented call to action. We’re scared, we’re pissed off and we want to do something about it. But what, exactly, we should being doing isn’t always clear, especially for those among us who haven’t been politically active in the past.

The key is to find a constructive outlet for your rage, so here are a few ideas.

Donate to your local abortion clinic — in Mike Pence’s name

This is a thing that people are doing, and it is simultaneously trolly and constructive, which makes it the perfect act of dissent.

Sign up to escort a neighbor to work or school

In the wake of post-election violence and harassment towards Muslims, the LGBT community, people of color and other minorities, some New Yorkers no longer feel comfortable navigating public transportation by themselves. If you’re willing and able to provide protection, you can sign up here to accompany a neighbor to their destination. The “Yes, I’ll accompany my neighbor” project was started by Kayla Santosuosso of the Arab Association of New York, and has developed a network of almost 6,000 volunteers in less than a week.

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Plan to walk in the Million Women March following Trump’s inauguration

On January 20, Donald Trump will be sworn in. On January 21, women will gather on the national mall to protest this fact. The organizers did a similar event last week that saw a turnout in the tens of thousands, so if you’re coming from out of town, book your hotels and Airbnbs now.

Wear a safety pin

People are donning safety pins to show that they are allies to minorities and other groups who may be experiencing violence or harassment. Wearing one means you’re willing to stand up for anyone who experiences these things while in your presence, so be sure you’re truly ready to do that. It’s also worth noting that the movement has also been subject to a fair amount of criticism.

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Join the Twitter blackout

Anti-Trump Twitter users have been turning their profiles black in protest. It’s an easy way to make a statement, and it’s something you’ll have in common with Katy Perry.

Don’t get into pointless arguments on Facebook

It’s so rare that you’ll be able to change the mind of someone who is fired up on social media. And there are much better, more constructive ways to spend your energy.

But do use Facebook to find protests and other gatherings

It’s probably the easiest way to find rallies and connect with other activists in your area.

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Boycott Venmo

Venmo is a life-changing app, to be sure, but guess who owns it? PayPal. And guess who profits from PayPal? Peter Thiel, the notoriously conservative billionaire who donated $1.25 million to Donald Trump’s campaign (and also contributed to the downfall of Gawker). Square Cash does the exact same thing, but without all the evil politics.

Send your younger female relatives (or whomever) an aggressive amount of feminist literature

One of the most important things for the feminist community to ensure is that all of us — but especially our youngest, most impressionable members — don’t take Hillary’s defeat as evidence that women cannot be anything they want to be. We can. Duh. The first female president is out there somewhere, and if she happens to be a 12-year-old girl, we need to make sure said 12-year-old girl is well-versed in the writings of the feminist icons of both yesterday (Gloria Steinem, Betty Friedan, Simone de Beauvoir) and today (Roxane Gay, Lindy West, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie).

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Shop through Amazon and use AmazonSmile

Amazon’s charitable donation program makes it easy to donate a portion of the purchase price of many items to charities. On eligible items, the AmazonSmile Foundation donates 0.5 percent of the purchase price to the charity of your choice — an easy way to support organizations that help women, minorities, the LGBT community and anyone else Trump’s presidency threatens.

Contact your legislator to talk about the issues that concern you most

Pick one or two issues you’re especially concerned about (for example, immigration and reproductive rights), and reach out to your elected officials to talk about them. Former congressional staffer Emily Ellsworth recently tweeted some pointers on how to get their attention, including the fact that the best way to get ahold of them is by phone at their district office (sorry, phone phobics). Facebook, meanwhile, is the least effective way to contact them, according to Ellsworth.

Join the Ultra Violet network

Ultra Violet helps combat sexism and supports sexual assault victims. When you sign up you’re automatically placed on an email alert list. Slightly annoying, but they’re ahead of the curve on sending links to important petitions and other ways to donate or get involved.

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Intern, volunteer for or donate to these national organizations

The American Civil Liberties Union (fights to support reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, racial justice, voting rights and free speech), the Center for Reproductive Rights (works to improve the worldwide reproductive rights landscape using the law), NARAL Pro-Choice America (fights to protect women’s legal right to abortion services in this country), Planned Parenthood (provides healthcare to 1.5 million women and men yearly in the US), RAINN (the largest organization in this country dedicated to ending sexual violence), and Save the Children (invests in the lives of boys and girls around the world and across the US).

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Donate or volunteer at a local women’s shelter

Local shelters for victims of domestic abuse are always looking for volunteers and donations, particularly gift donations, for the residents and children at Christmas time. Organizing an event on behalf of them is also huge. It’s actually rather easy in a campus setting if you have the backing of a department like a Women’s Studies or Social Work program.

Make a Donald Trump voodoo doll

This is only sort of a joke.

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