The power that lurks

Sometimes, power doesn’t announce itself. Or maybe we just haven’t been listening. 

Whether it’s in the doctor’s office, the classroom, or at work, power can often be obscured, ignored, or simply go unnoticed. For the final week of Power Trip, our monthly magazine’s October issue, we take a look at the kind of power that lays in wait.

Crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) are quietly taking over. 

Many appear to offer abortions, even mentioning them outright on their websites. They don’t. The clinics can be hard to distinguish from actual women’s health centers, which offer evidence-based medical advice and care, and outnumber them three to one nationwide. Journalist Maya Kroth visits a CPC in rural Georgia, whose employees try to convince women to opt out of abortions.

“The simple act of saving money, no matter the amount, can empower and motivate you in ways you might not expect.”

Writer Kristin Wong makes the case for financial planning, even in the face of an uncertain economic future. Saving is a kind of financial power that comes from within, and Kristin’s tips offer ways to unlock it. One easy step? Ditch the digital shortcuts and pay in cash.

Teachers nationwide are finding out that there is, in fact, power in organized labor.

Journalist Sarah Jaffe speaks to educators who have gone on strike in West Virginia, Oklahoma, and Arizona, and learns that “rank-and-file teachers who may have thought of the union as a third party that existed to pressure politicians on their behalf have now learned what it is like to experience being the union.” In this case, fighting back means diving in. 

Knowledge is power. But as far as salaries go, we’re still in the dark. 

Engineer Jackie Luo is trying to change that. She’s gathered thousands of salaries from tech employees — especially men — and is spilling all the details. Jackie points out that sharing salary information with coworkers isn’t about comparison and competition, but equity: “Fair compensation starts with greater transparency.”

Take up the mantle.