The press in Dallas | “Our vocation is to revive a biblical femininity”

“I wanted to work for a long time and be equal to my husband. But after today, I am convinced that this is not that God wants me. I have to stay at home. »»

It would have been enough for a speech – the first of this weekend in June – so that Lexi Gomez finds the meaning to give to his life, on the occasion of the Young Women’s Leadership Summit, a congress which will have gathered nearly 3000 women from all over America in Dallas, Texas. For three days, the participants attended the speeches of female figure figures of the American right, the most important conference of the genre in the United States.

Young Americans are among the most refractory to the Republican Party – 61 % of women under the age of 30 voted for Kamala Harris in 2024, against 38 % for Donald Trump, according to NBC. But the right works hard to seduce them.

Here, flower dresses are in cowboy boots, and the Maga caps with blond curls. At the entrance to the conference center, located in a huge hotel complex, a pale blue banner indicates the path to follow in cursive letters. “The good side of the story begins here. »»

The Young Women’s Leadership Summit is the fruit of the conservative organism Turning Point USA, founded by Charlie Kirk, one of the most important figures of the American Christian right which contributed to the election – then the re -election – of Donald Trump thanks to his influence with young Americans.

Charlie Kirk was killed on Wednesday on a Utah university campus, creating a shock wave in the American political world. The attack was perpetrated in broad daylight, while Mr. Kirk tackled social issues. The right added to him the label of “martyr” and Donald Trump promised to award him the presidential medal of freedom, the highest civil distinction of the United States. A 22 -year -old suspect was arrested on Friday after two days of human hunting. He had expressed his family his opposition to the opinions of the conservative activist.

The Texan conference was in its tenth edition. It is funded by a crowd of conservative partners, including several anti -abortion organizations, the National Rifle Association (NRA) – the law defense of the right to carry weapons – as well as the Heritage Foundation, which has written the ultra -conservative political proposal 2025.

On its site, the event promises its participants that they will learn to “fight against the modern feminist movement” and to “fight wokism on their campuses”, while being “friends for life”.

A “spiritual fight”

The participants piled up in the main auditorium, on the first evening of the conference, are decked out with macaroons and stickers with catchy slogans – “the pretty girls vote republican”, “leave your socialist boyfriend”.

After having sang the American national anthem and warmed up on the song Ymca – An essential of President Trump’s rallies -, they welcome by shouting the first speakers, who go on stage to the rhythm of deafening pop songs.

Erika Kirk – Woman of Charlie Kirk – was one of the most anticipated in the event. “We are engaged in a spiritual fight,” she says, launching a look at the crowd. “Our vocation is to revive a biblical femininity. »»

A biblical woman, according to Erika Kirk’s term, is a woman who must put her career in the background to marry and start a family. “You can always create your own business,” she says, “smile tender in the face. But children, family, marriage, they are not renewable resources. »»

Charlie Kirk had chosen this moment to go on stage to join his wife. “Women must know how to submit to a pious man when they need it. If you are not ready to do so, you should pray for it. »»

“Have fun by doing it!” Adds Erika Kirk. Do not see it as something you need to do, but as a chance. I am lucky to serve my husband. I am lucky to submit to him because he submits to God. »»

These tips touched Lexi Gomez right at the heart. “I had tears in my eyes by listening to them, because I felt really lost recently, but I now have the impression that all my questions have been resolved,” she said, seated in front of a window where the Texan sun is seal.

Coming from a Latin progressive milieu, the young mother explains having moved away from her loved ones since the birth of her daughter, now 3 years old. While the wave of expulsion of undocumented immigrants and the political climate sow anxiety about those around her, she takes refuge in religion. “Everyone is afraid, they think it’s the end of the world. I could easily fall into the same chasm, but I know that I just have to trust God. If we focus on him, everything makes sense. »»

Leadership and submission

The speinders of Young Women’s Leadership Summit tackle questions of well-being and relationships in detail, but politics is almost absent from discussions, including the favorite themes of conservatives such as immigration or taxation.

Christianity is omnipresent: most lectures cite the Bible abundantly in their speeches, and the majority of the participants encountered by The press were raised in very religious circles.

And in their world, submission is not a bad word. “I believe that there is strength in submitting,” says Ellie Herson, a 19 -year -old sparkling student who is chatting with new friends on the fringes of speeches.

Most of the twenty participants encountered by The press strongly denounce the feminist advances of the last century. “I believe that modern feminism is trying to tear us off our femininity,” says Nevaeh Souza, 18, who describes himself as “fiercely” anti -argument.

Next to her, Kristina Edelman, of Nebraska, nods seriously. “I would like to be even allowed the contraceptive pill. If you are not ready to have a child, you should not take action, ”says the young woman of 26 years.

Kayley Matthews, an anti -avoly student and activist, is more nuanced. “The conservatives tend to present feminism in a bad light, but I do not agree with that. We should be more grateful to women who fought for our rights, ”suggests the young woman of 20 years.

Does she then see irony in the idea of ​​a conference dedicated to leadership where the participants are invited to submit to their husband? “I think it can be a contradiction,” she says hesitantly. But leadership can take several forms. To be a mother is to be in the leadership position in relation to your children is to raise the next generation. »»

What place for women?

It is not all the speakers who invite young women to give up their professional ambitions. “Some of you will be called (to work),” says the conservative and ex-sponsor of NRA Dana Loesch.

In fact, a majority of women invited on stage at the conference have well -filled careers, such as politician Nancy Mace or the professional surfer Bethany Hamilton, and several work full time as influencer or animators of Bingo.

“But let me tell you something, girls. You can’t have everything at the same time. Something will have to scop, ”says Dana Loesch. Happiness? This is what Charlie Kirk suggested in his speeches.

“I hope that some of you will leave here with a warning that a life focused on a career is very empty, He said in June. The most miserable people in America are career women in their thirties (…) Do you know who are the happiest? Women married to many children. »»

To read tomorrow: “Young, Quebeckers, Conservatives and Christian”, a Fannie Arcand file in the context section