Pantsuit Nation was never sustainable.
The world’s most poorly kept secret became the internet’s most viral Facebook group during the 2016 election cycle — growing from a few friends of founder Libby Chamberlain to nearly 4 million members in fewer than two months.
It grew too fast and now its pantsuit is feeling a little snug in the waist.
Administrators long ago stopped being able to deal with the massive numbers of posts. It is a game of Russian roulette (fucking Russians) as to whether any given post will ever see the light of day. The breakneck speed of the group makes it difficult to build lasting connections. The sheer volume of posts creates an echo chamber, with the same news (and sometimes fake news) posted repeatedly.
Before November 8th, while the circle jerk effect was already in full swing, it had a Kumbaya element to it as everyone had a common goal: to see Hillary Clinton elected president. Some people were in the “Never Trump” camp and not huge Clinton fans. Some were with her from the beginning. Inevitably, some folks were added by friends and had no idea how to leave the group, even less stop it from taking over their Facebook news feed.
On November 9th, news spread that a qualified candidate had lost to a reality show cheese doodle. That day the goals of the group splintered and the infighting began. Everyone had a different answer to the ultimate question of, “What next?”
Local Pantsuit Nation chapters began to spring up. With no official guidance, some areas had multiple groups and no clear directive. Then, as Chamberlain moved to recreate Pantsuit Nation as a 501(c)(3) organization, local groups scrambled to figure out their path forward.
Chamberlain sent a letter to group administration saying, “We cannot have ANY formal relationship with ANY group engaging in political activity or fundraising as it would prevent us from achieving 501(c)3 status, which could have truly disastrous long-term consequences for our own fundraising capacity, our ability to collaborate and partner with other 501(c)3 organizations, and our issue-based advocacy potential.”
What once felt like a cohesive unit working together now felt scattered and disjointed.
Chamberlain’s recent announcement of a Pantsuit Nation book has created a further divide. While many members cheered her decision, others felt betrayed or angry.
From there it has devolved into any heated Facebook argument. Name calling, trolls, accusations of censorship, and suggestions that everyone should leave the group en masse. Though Chamberlain states she will be asking for consent before using anybody’s words or images in the book, many are worried that the group will feel less like a safe space (though with 4 million members and various trolling pages already set up on Facebook, I am not sure how much safety could be assumed at this point).
Pantsuit Nation is never going to be the group it once was. It was never sustainable in that way in the first place. While some will stand behind it until the day Trump antagonizes the Chinese or Russians into destroying our internet, others have already moved forward.
That should be the takeaway. Let’s not mourn the group that could never have lived up to our expectations. Let’s look at what it has already accomplished. There are many local groups that, while no longer officially affiliated with Pantsuit Nation, have taken the original mission and run with it. They are affecting real change on a local level with an interest in down-ballot votes and local advocacy.
Last week, the legislature in North Carolina acted like spoiled children. It was my local group of former Pantsuiters who kept me informed. They quickly disseminated a call to gather at the general assembly. They gave out information on who would represent arrested protesters pro bono.
The national group was not our panacea, but it certainly helped us concentrate our efforts. The boots-on-the-ground work of the local chapters will propel us forward into this strange new world as active citizens rather than passive backseat political drivers.