This week, we finally felt the ground moving. During Tuesday’s national election, the people of the United States took significant steps towards real gender equality.
A record number of women now hold seats in the US Senate and House of Representatives. New Hampshire became the first state in American history to elect an all-women delegation – two women as Senators, two women as Representatives and a woman as Governor – and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii is the first Asian-American woman to be elected to the Senate. Tammy Baldwin not only became Wisconsin’s first female Senator, but is now America’s first openly gay Senator.
Historic Wins November 6, 2012
These historic and inspiring wins on Tuesday, when taken together with the general election, speak to a greater shift in American culture. After a long, dreary campaign that often veered into nasty debates (primarily between men) about women’s reproductive choices, access to healthcare and equal pay, the voice of women is what spoke loudest on election night.
Comprising 53% of the voting population, women – across party lines – have presented President Obama and the members of the Senate and House with a clear mandate: represent us!
Women in Congress Now 18 Percent of Seats.
While we celebrate the fantastic gains that women (and those men who care about and value women) made this week, 18% of Congress does not equate gender parity. It’s now up to these elected officials to actually fight for and demand real equality for all of us. Which means we should see significant policy changes on equal pay, paid family leave and the issues we truly care about.
We can each also play our own part in shifting this culture. This week, share this message with everyone you know. Spread the word about the rising power of women and the increasing recognition that women’s voices count.
Now is the time to stay politically active, to motivate a new generation of women and men to get involved and to advocate for those issues which matter most to us.
We have the ear of Washington, now let’s speak up!
Warmly,
Jennifer Siebel Newsom & The MissRepresentation.org Team