55: First Sit-Down: The Girls & Moms Behind the CA Middle School Walkout Speak Out on Protecting Girls’ Spaces

On September 2, 2025, before the first bell even finished ringing, dozens of students at James L. Day Middle School walked out of class to make a simple point: girls should not be forced to undress next to boys in their locker room. Wearing white bows and pink “Save Girls’ Sports” bracelets, seventh and eighth graders stood shoulder-to-shoulder, joined by parents and community members demanding privacy and safety for girls.

For the first time, the two 8th grade girls who led the protest—and their moms—sit down with This is a Woman Podcast host Sophia Lorey, for an exclusive conversation. They share what it felt like to speak at the school board meeting, why they organized the walkout, and how they’re responding to a controversial district policy that labels girls’ basic privacy needs as “mental health” or “religious” accommodations.

This episode captures the courage of ordinary students and parents who are unwilling to stay silent. It’s about protecting girls’ innocence, dignity, and safety in California schools—and why sex-based privacy still matters.