The Matriarchy Is Rising And It Looks Nothing Like You Think

Guest Opinion by AshLeigh Dunham

Opening: Redefining the Matriarchy

When people hear the word "matriarchy," they often imagine the opposite of patriarchy. They see a world where women simply occupy the top of the same pyramid that has failed so many people, especially those who are on the bottom. That is not matriarchy. I saw a recent video on social media explaining that matriarchy is not a pyramid at all.

It is a circle.

In a pyramid, power flows upward. Stress and hardship flow downward. Those at the top are protected while everyone else is expected to compete for whatever remains. That scarcity mindset is why people believe they must compete with each other to get to the top. For far too long women will compete with each other to rise in their careers because they have been told that there’s only so much room for women at the top. We see marginalized communities fight each other because they are told that those in charge will only give some of us equal rights, not all of us. That is the point when you think in pyramids. 

In a circle, leadership is measured not by who stands above everyone else, but by who ensures that everyone inside the circle is safe. Everyone, especially children, who are our future.

The matriarchy is not about women ruling over others. It is about creating communities where every person matters, every child is protected, and every family has the opportunity to thrive. 

What Leadership Should Look Like

The best leaders are not those who demand loyalty. They are those who accept responsibility of their people. A mother knows that leadership often means being the first one awake and the last one to rest. It means making sure everyone else has what they need before thinking about yourself. It means solving problems before they become crises. It means protecting the vulnerable. 

That same principle should guide government. Because when children are hungry, scared, or exhausted, they cannot learn. When families are struggling to access healthcare, they cannot thrive. When people are worried about keeping a roof over their heads, paying for childcare, or surviving another medical bill, they cannot fully contribute their talents to society.

People do their best when their basic needs are met. They innovate. They create. They build businesses. They volunteer. They care for their neighbors. Strong communities are not built by fear. They are built by stability.

The Women Showing Us the Way

Over the last year, I have had the privilege of campaigning alongside women who embody this vision. Women like Candice Duvieilh (running for Congressional District 5) and Mandie Ledkins (running for State Senate District 14).

They are not running because they crave power. They are running because they see problems that need solving. They talk about public schools, healthcare, working families, and the future our children will inherit. They ask difficult questions. Both of these women have bipartisan support because they have done the work and are, arguably overqualified for the positions they seek. They have both have the brains and the heart. 

They challenge the status quo. And they refuse to accept that things must remain the way they have always been.

That is leadership. Not dominance. Service. Not ego. Responsibility.

Not power over people. Power used on behalf of people to make their lives better. 

Why We Brought Our Children To Qualify For Office 

When we qualified to run for office, we brought our children with us. Some people may have seen a photo opportunity. I saw something much bigger. I saw a promise.

A promise that our children would see women showing up. 

Women speaking out.

Women refusing to surrender their voices.

Women choosing hope over cynicism.

At a time when rights feel under attack and many people feel discouraged about the future, we wanted our children to see that democracy is not something that happens to us.

It is something we are participating in. We wanted them to know that when something is wrong, you do not simply accept it. You organize. You advocate. You vote. 

You run. Sometimes with your babies by your side, and sometimes with them just in your heart.

The Future We Are Building

The matriarchy is not coming because women want to stand above everyone else. The matriarchy is rising because too many people have been left outside the circle for too long. We’re here to let everyone in. 

It rises whenever a mother speaks up at a school board meeting, a woman runs for office, a community chooses compassion over cruelty, or we decide that government should help people thrive, not merely survive.

The goal is not female supremacy, but human dignity.

A society where children are fed and safe. Families are supported. Rights are protected. There is nothing more pro-family than the Matriarchy. A society where a person has the opportunity to become the best version of themselves so that our society becomes the best version of itself.

That is the circle we are building. And no matter how many obstacles stand in our way, we will keep moving forward together.

AshLeigh Meyer Dunham is a Jefferson County Juvenile Court Referee and a fertility attorney at Magic City Fertility Law, with a career devoted to serving Alabama families. She brings fairness, clarity, and compassion to sensitive juvenile and family matters, helping create stability for children in crisis. A mother through IVF herself, AshLeigh understands the personal stakes of fertility care and advocates for clear legal protections so families can grow without having to leave Alabama.

Dunham is seeking election to the Alabama Supreme Court, Place 8. She is unopposed in the Democratic primary on May 19, and will face Republican Craig Shaw in the general election on November 3.

For more information, visit https://ashleighforalabama.com or follow her on social media.

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