🚻Intro to Gender Studies Unit 9 – Gender in Politics: Suffrage to Modern Era

Historical Context of Women's Suffrage

• Women's suffrage emerged from the broader women's rights movement of the 19th century, which advocated for legal, social, and economic equality for women
• The Seneca Falls Convention (1848) marked a pivotal moment in the early suffrage movement, where activists like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott drafted the Declaration of Sentiments, modeled after the Declaration of Independence
• Women's suffrage faced opposition from various groups, including some religious organizations, political parties, and even some women who believed that politics was not an appropriate sphere for women
• The suffrage movement gained momentum in the early 20th century, with the formation of organizations like the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) and the more militant National Woman's Party (NWP)
• World War I played a significant role in advancing women's suffrage, as women's contributions to the war effort helped shift public opinion in favor of their political rights
• The passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920 granted women the right to vote nationwide, though many women of color remained disenfranchised due to discriminatory state laws and practices

Key Figures in the Suffrage Movement

• Susan B. Anthony was a prominent suffragist who, along with Elizabeth Cady Stanton, founded the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA) and played a crucial role in the movement for over 50 years
• Alice Paul was a radical suffragist who founded the National Woman's Party (NWP) and organized the first pickets of the White House, leading to her arrest and imprisonment
  • Paul also played a key role in the passage of the 19th Amendment and later authored the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)
• Ida B. Wells-Barnett was an African American journalist, activist, and suffragist who fought against lynching and racial discrimination, and founded the Alpha Suffrage Club in Chicago
• Carrie Chapman Catt was a suffragist who served as president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) and played a key role in the final push for the 19th Amendment
• Mary Church Terrell was an African American suffragist and civil rights activist who advocated for the rights of both women and African Americans, and helped found the National Association of Colored Women (NACW)
• Maud Wood Park was a suffragist who helped found the College Equal Suffrage League and later served as the first president of the League of Women Voters

Milestones in Political Representation

• The first woman elected to the U.S. Congress was Jeannette Rankin (Montana), who took office in 1917, even before women had nationwide suffrage
• In 1924, Nellie Tayloe Ross (Wyoming) and Miriam A. Ferguson (Texas) became the first women elected as state governors
• Hattie Wyatt Caraway (Arkansas) became the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate in 1932, after initially being appointed to fill her late husband's seat
• Shirley Chisholm (New York) became the first African American woman elected to Congress in 1968, and later became the first woman and African American to run for a major party's presidential nomination in 1972
• Sandra Day O'Connor became the first woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1981, serving until her retirement in 2006
• In 2007, Nancy Pelosi (California) became the first woman to serve as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
• Kamala Harris made history in 2020 by becoming the first woman, first African American, and first Asian American to be elected Vice President of the United States

Evolving Gender Roles in Politics

• As women gained the right to vote and began to enter political office, they challenged traditional gender roles that had previously excluded them from the public sphere
• Women politicians often faced scrutiny and criticism based on their gender, with their appearance, family life, and emotional state being subject to greater attention than their male counterparts
• Over time, women in politics have advocated for issues that were previously considered "women's issues," such as reproductive rights, child care, and equal pay, helping to broaden the political agenda
• The increasing presence of women in politics has led to changes in political culture, with greater emphasis on collaboration, consensus-building, and diversity
• Despite progress, women continue to be underrepresented in political leadership positions, and face ongoing challenges such as gender stereotypes, discrimination, and harassment
• The #MeToo movement has highlighted the prevalence of sexual harassment and assault in politics, leading to increased calls for accountability and systemic change

Intersectionality and Political Participation

• Intersectionality, a term coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, refers to the ways in which various forms of discrimination and oppression (such as racism, sexism, and classism) intersect and compound each other
• Women of color have historically faced additional barriers to political participation, due to the combined effects of racial and gender discrimination
• The political interests and priorities of women are not monolithic, and are shaped by factors such as race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, and disability status
• Intersectional approaches to political organizing and advocacy have been used by groups such as the African American Policy Forum and the National Domestic Workers Alliance to address the unique challenges faced by marginalized women
• The 2018 U.S. midterm elections saw a record number of women of color elected to Congress, reflecting a growing recognition of the importance of intersectional representation
• Inclusive and intersectional political leadership has the potential to create more equitable and responsive policies that address the needs of diverse communities

Current Challenges and Debates

• Women in politics continue to face gender-based violence and harassment, both online and in person, which can deter them from running for office or speaking out on controversial issues
• The persistent gender gap in political ambition means that women are less likely than men to consider running for office, often due to factors such as lack of encouragement, self-doubt, and family responsibilities
• Debates around the role of identity politics in elections have raised questions about the extent to which gender should be a factor in voting decisions and political strategies
• The underrepresentation of women in political leadership positions has led to calls for structural changes, such as reforming campaign finance laws, implementing gender quotas, and providing better support for women candidates
• The polarization of abortion politics in the United States has made reproductive rights a contentious issue, with women politicians often being defined by their stance on abortion
• The COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on women, particularly women of color, and has highlighted the need for gender-responsive policies and leadership

Global Perspectives on Gender in Politics

• Women's political representation varies widely across countries, with some nations (such as Rwanda and Bolivia) having achieved near gender parity in their legislatures, while others (such as Papua New Guinea and Yemen) have very few women in political office
• International organizations such as the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union have set goals and standards for women's political participation, such as the Beijing Platform for Action and the Sustainable Development Goals
• Quota systems, which mandate a certain percentage of women candidates or elected officials, have been used in over 130 countries to increase women's representation in politics
• Women's political leadership has been linked to positive outcomes such as increased spending on health and education, reduced corruption, and more sustainable peace agreements
• In many countries, women politicians face additional challenges such as political violence, lack of access to resources, and discriminatory laws and practices
• Transnational feminist movements and networks, such as Women's March Global and the International Women's Strike, have mobilized women across borders to advocate for gender justice and political change

Future Directions and Emerging Trends

• Increasing numbers of young women and girls are becoming politically engaged and active, thanks in part to the influence of social media and youth-led movements like the March for Our Lives and the Sunrise Movement
• The growing diversity of women in politics, including more women of color, LGBTQ+ women, and women with disabilities, is challenging traditional notions of political leadership and representation
• Innovations in campaign technology and strategy, such as the use of digital organizing tools and data-driven targeting, are changing the ways in which women run for office and engage with voters
• The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of remote and virtual political activities, such as online town halls and fundraisers, which may have long-term implications for women's political participation
• There is increasing recognition of the need for men to be allies and advocates for gender equality in politics, and for political institutions to address issues of toxic masculinity and male privilege
• As more women enter politics and assume leadership roles, there is the potential for transformative change in policy areas such as climate change, economic inequality, and social justice