In an age where our country has been faced with a strong wave of conservatism and division, Olivia Rodrigo did what not many other Gen Z artists have the guts to do; she used her platform in a way to uplift those whose voices have been historically silenced and marginalized.

Daisy Chain Fields is a music festival pioneered by Rodrigo which took place at Great Park in Irvine on August 29th, 2026. The lineup consisted of 14 female artists, including Chappell Roan, Bikini Kill, Doechii, Not For Radio, and special guest appearances from Sarah McLachlan, Alanis Morissette, and Stevie Nicks. It is important to note that all of the artists involved in this festival waived their performance fees with the hope of directing as much of the earnings as possible toward the women and girls who need it the most.

With over 45,000 people in attendance the festival made waves across social media, not only for the stellar performances of the all-female lineup, but also for the incredible platform it gave to ten different organizations all with the goal of advocating for women and girls. Ticket sales from the festival alone raised 10 million dollars, which was then matched by Melissa French Gates and her organization Pivotal Ventures, therefore resulting in a 20 million dollar donation, all of which went to the nonprofit organizations involved with Daisy Chain Fields.

By examining the specific charities that Rodrigo selected for Daisy Chains, we can see that her intention was to highlight the struggles of all women, including LGBTQ+ women and women of color, which has become increasingly rare in an era of white performative feminism. Prior to each performance, we heard from a different organization, all of which could also be beneficial to our students here at CSUSB.

Obviously, Planned Parenthood was in attendance, alongside the National Institute for Reproductive Health which is a group that partners with state and local reproductive health, rights, and justice organizations on policy advocacy. We also heard from Black Mamas Matter Alliance, which is one of the nation’s most prominent groups focused on Black maternal health, advocating for the rights, respect, and resources of Black mothers everywhere.

She also highlighted John Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health, which brings together Indigenous knowledge, community wisdom, and public health practice to support the well-being of Indigenous communities worldwide. Another organization which stood out to me was the National Domestic Workers Alliance which focuses on fighting for the rights of millions of domestic workers while working toward building an economy where every family can access the care they need and deserve.

Many celebrities settle for surface-level activism, such as reposting a graphic on their story or engaging in red carpet buzz moments. However, Rodrigo proved with this festival that she is looking to make a lasting, realistic impact on her audience by providing them with the resources they need to educate themselves on their own rights and bodily autonomy.

Young girls in this country are growing up in an era where they have fewer rights than their mothers and grandmothers did at their age, so for an influential pop star such as Olivia Rodrigo to recognize that and encourage her following to fight for their rights and freedoms is insanely important.

Hopefully Daisy Chain Fields will be returning next year, and with it will come another reminder that in a time where certain groups want women to feel overwhelmed and alone, we are so much stronger when we stand together.