Inside Mass NOW: Meet Ali DiMatteo
Ali DiMatteo joined the Mass NOW Board of Directors as Co-VP of Legislation in December 2017. Here, she gives a glimpse into her life and why she joined Mass NOW.
What's your favorite feminist quote and why?
"I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own." – Audre LordeOne of the first women to talk about intersectionality, she identified race, class, age, gender, and other factors as all contributing to and intersecting within systems of oppression. What I love about the quote and her work is the belief that our differences should be used to bring us together, not divide us. It's a reminder that our experiences may vary, but there is still much uniting us.
What inspired you to join Mass NOW?
I'm moved by all the amazing women who have been using their voices to speak truth to power, especially since the 2016 election. As a former congressional staffer and lobbyist turned stay-at-home mom, it's been difficult for me to find my place and my voice. My notions about what it means to be a feminist have been challenged. I have recently come to welcome those challenges and am trying to dismantle fixed definitions within my own mind and life. What is exciting to me about Mass NOW is the ability to work on feminist issues while looking at broader systems that play into these type of fixed mindsets and ultimately create oppression. It's not about which choice is "better" (because I don't believe in assigning values to these choices), but instead it's about empowering women and destroying systems that limit or restrict those choices to begin with.
What's your favorite news outlet?
I'm addicted to listening to NPR in the car. Luckily my kids don't seem to mind! It's such a great way to get the news, and nerd-out a bit on certain topics ("Science Fridays!"). I love that I can learn about local, national and global issues as well as new fun facts. For instance, did you know that Mary Anderson invented the first windshield wiper? Thanks, "Morning Edition!"