The Future is Female

Photo taken from: www.nyclgbtsites.org

Written by WIN Staff, Lauren Nish

In a time where women’s reproductive, educational, and social rights are being threatened across the globe, it’s more crucial than ever to explore what our future can look like if we embrace, value, and hold true to all things female.  

‘The Future is Female’ was coined by Labyris Book Store in the 1970’s, during Second Wave Feminism. This wave was about equality and discrimination, and what we can thank for the Equal Rights Amendment (supposedly making discrimination illegal on the basis of sex).  It appeared first on a t-shirt that Labyris Books designed.  Labyris was the first feminist bookstore in New York City, opened in 1972 by Jane Lurie and Marizel Rios. The t-shirt was photographed by the photographer Liza Cowan, who snapped a picture of her girlfriend at the time, musician Alix Dobkin, wearing it in 1975, as part of a collection she was working on called “What the Well Dressed Dyke Will Wear.”  

Photo taken from: www.dykeaquarterly.com

The staying power of this phrase The Future is Female, is evident over the decades.  Since its inception, it has been used by many, including Hillary Clinton and sold many a t-shirt and button in the more recent wave of female empowerment that began in 2015.   

Part of why it carries so much weight and retains relevance over the last 50+ years is that it conveys a hopefulness for a better, more just, more equitable, more inclusive future. 

Some of the ways it has been interpreted include:

  • How the growing political power of women in the United States will forever change politics and governance

  • That the time to be unapologetic in our gender and stand up for all things female is nigh 

  • In reference to building an equal and inclusive future

  • As a beacon of hope when women are facing setbacks 

We chose it as WIN Summit 2023’s theme to signify that we are actively working on creating a future where women, their contributions, and all things female are valued.   


Join us on April 19th to engage, learn, and network at our seventh annual WIN Summit. The Summit was created when our founder saw a lack of negotiation and leadership training that centered around women’s unique perspectives, problems, and strengths. Fast forward and now the Summit is the premier event for negotiation training, networking, and leadership learning-and it’s completely virtual. However, if you’re in NYC, we have a limited number of tickets available for our cocktail reception with WIN Summit 2023 speakers and sponsors on April 18th; if you’re looking for a place to network, it’s there!

You can check out more about WIN Summit 2023: The Future is Female on our website, and get 40% off WIN Summit 2023 Tickets using code: GAEARLYBIRD40 

WIN Admin