By Molly Fredriksson
When the word politician comes to mind what do you envision? Since the beginning of time, men have predominately run governments across the globe. World-wide, women only account for 24% of government. It is easy to forget that feminism is a relatively new idea to impact our politics when you compare it to how long males have dominated politics across the world. And, of course, the meaning of feminism takes a different form in every country, changing how much women have been involved in government. Recently, women have begun to challenge the male-dominated positions. In Washington D.C., more females than ever are currently serving in Congress. But, it was a long line of women before them that helped pave a way to make it possible for them to hold such powerful positions, such that shape countries agendas, make or break economies, influence the public, create new policies, and so on.
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There have been countless women, and some whose stories have never been heard, that have helped pave the way in America, but here is a short tribute to a few of those women. I wish I could include every woman, but that would be an endless list of names.
In 1848 a New York convention lead by Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, and more resulted in a multitude of rights for women’s suffrage. The first woman to run for U.S. Representatives in 1866 was also Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Next, the first woman to practice law in the U.S. Supreme Court was Belva Lockwood in 1884. Fast forward to the 1900’s and Jeannette Rankin was the first woman elected to Congress in 1916. In 1920, women were officially given the right to vote. The first black woman Crystal Dreda Bird Fauset was elected to a state legislature in 1938. The first openly lesbian woman Elaine Noble was elected to a state legislature in 1974. In 1988, and again in 1992, Lenora Fulani ran for president. In 2005, Condoleezza Rice became the first republican black woman to serve as U.S. Secretary of State. Nancy Pelosi became the first woman to serve as Speaker of the U.S. house in 2007. The first woman to win a major party’s presidential primary delegate selection was Hillary Clinton in 2008. Also in 2008, Sarah Palin was the first woman on a national GOP ticket. In 2017, Senator Elizabeth Warren became the first to serve as the Vice Chair at the Senate Democratic Conference. And more recently, Sharice Davids and Deb Haaland became the first Native American women elected to Congress, as well as Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib as the first Muslim women in Congress. In 2019, six women announced they were going to run for president. This was the first time in history more than two women announced their candidacy.
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What seems to be basic ideas in our society, especially in America, are policies and changes that took centuries for women to introduce and overcome. Such as legalized abortion in 1973, the Violence Against Women Act in 1990, and the Medical Leave Act in the 90’s. It wasn’t until 1974 when the Equal Credit Opportunity Act took shape, leaving it illegal for lenders to discriminate based on sex, race, age, religion, or even marital status. Finally, in 1977, 15 women in the House of Congress created the “Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues”. This caucus has resulted in the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, Child Support Enforcement Act, Women’s Business Ownership Act, and so many more.
All of these accomplishments in Congress are only a mere example of what women are capable of in government. As of 2020, women still face road blocks when it comes to running for office. Many Americans, including some women, still believe that only a man is fit for office. But even so, women are rising in politics. To be a woman in politics is to be a special kind of woman. They are a type of woman that breaks down barriers for all women. To be a feminist in politics means to recognize not only struggles that apply to you, but other women from different backgrounds and ethnicities. It is important to realize that a Black woman, Native woman, White woman, Asian woman, and Muslim woman will all have a different experience in America. That is why a representation of women from all backgrounds must be present in our government. Every American woman should feel they are represented and their needs are considered.
I look forward to the future of politics for women and what the next generation will accomplish. I hope to see a U.S. woman president in my lifetime. If not, I hope my children will see a woman president. Until then, we must continue to write, conspire, think, speak, and live our truths as feminists.
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