In US Election, Women Won Big

The 2020 United States election has left a lot up in the air and voters around the country wait anxiously for final results, especially for the presidential race. However, we don’t need to wait to know that women around the country shattered barriers and won several big victories. 

From women of color taking (or keeping) elected positions to women’s roles in moving the needle in countless ways, ladies led the way. It has been an election of firsts: the first Black and South Asian woman nominated or elected Vice President, the first openly transgender woman elected state senator, the first woman elected mayor in Miami-Dade County, the first Republican women elected to the House in both Iowa and South Carolina, Wyoming’s first female senator, the first Black congresswoman elected in Missouri, and many more milestones. No matter your political leanings, this has been an election of broken barriers. Read on for more details on how women are leading.

Record Number of Native American Women Elected to Congress, from The Guardian—“According to a Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) report, 18 indigenous women were running for congressional seats this year – a record in a single year.”

Women Have Made History in the 2020 Election, from Elle—“Before any races were even called this November, women had made history. A record number of women ran for office in 2020—surpassing the record set just two years prior. More Republican women ran for U.S. House seats than ever before, and a number of women were poised to bring new representation to the halls of Congress and to their state legislatures.”

New Mexico Makes History, Becomes First State to Elect All Women of Color to the House, from People—“New Mexico is now the first state with a House delegation comprised entirely of women of color. […] All of the six major party candidates who ran in New Mexico’s House races were women.”

All 4 Members of ‘The Squad’ Reelected to House, from CNN—“All four congresswomen known as the Squad—Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts—have won reelection, CNN projects. Since taking office in January 2019, the lawmakers, all women of color, have electrified the left’s progressive base and lit up social media.”

Kamala Harris Makes History As the First Woman to Become Vice President, from Vox—“Harris has made history: No woman has ever served as vice president or president in the US. Her election to the office — and the representation she brings — is significant for many voters. […] Harris’s nomination for this role was groundbreaking. As the new vice president, Harris could play a major role in shaping policies and priorities for a Biden administration, while sending a strong message about what’s possible for other women and people of color.”

The History of the Women Nominated for Vice President

CNN looks at the history of women as candidates for vice president of the United States—a role only taken on by three women in history, the latest being presidential nominee Joe Biden's pick Kamala Harris. The article talks about Harris, the third woman to accept a nomination from a major party and the first woman of color, and why the pick is so significant. Reporter Kate Sullivan also discusses Sarah Palin’s history and rise before being nominated, as well as Geraldine Ferraro’s groundbreaking nomination as the first woman—and her background, including her time as a teacher, lawyer, and advocate for victims and for economic equality for women. While previous tickets with women vice presidential candidates have been unsuccessful, it’s easy to see why so many are eager to see the glass ceiling shattered—and to see a qualified, powerful woman succeed.

By Kate Sullivan, CNN

With Joe Biden selecting Kamala Harris, the senator from California becomes just the third woman to be selected as the vice president on a major party ticket and the first Black woman to be nominated.

Harris, a woman of Black and South Asian descent, ran for president in 2020 but ended her bid in December. She has been a senator since 2017, and was previously California's attorney general.

Biden's announcement on Tuesday came after months of speculation and after his vetting team looked at more than a dozen women. Biden pledged earlier this year to choose a woman as his vice president, and was under pressure to select a woman of color.

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100 Years of Women at the Ballot Box

August marks 100 years since the ratification of the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote. A new voting population brought new issues to the forefront, new voices being heard, and a new political landscape. But the fight didn't end there.  For the next few months, Smithsonian Magazine will cover the fight for representation, complications including privilege and ongoing inequality, struggles, political trailblazers, and ongoing work—and the women behind it all. Read below and click through to read more and follow their coverage.

On August 18, 1920—a full century ago—the 19th Amendment was ratified by Tennessee's legislature. But that date marks neither the beginning nor the end of the struggle for suffrage. The movement to secure the vote for women took a long, thorny path that extends until today; it's a trail dotted with factional disagreements, prioritization of the needs of the white and wealthy, disappointments and hard-won victories, occasional scandal, unexpected alliances and perseverance. In this collection of stories, you can learn about this complex history and the women who propelled it.

In the coming months, Smithsonian magazine will tell the stories of the people who pushed to fully realize the dream of suffrage for all women, like civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer, who faced down the KKK to secure the right to vote for herself and others; the Hawaiian suffragists whose path to political participation was complicated by colonialism; and the glass-ceiling-cracking campaigns of Shirley Chisholm and Geraldine Ferraro.

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Honoring the Power and Progress of Black Women

The United States is observing Black History Month all February with stories, discussions, celebrations and more honoring the lives and works of black people as we continue the fight for equality—and the success, strength, and talent of black women is often front and center. Here are a few articles that caught our eye this week.

How This Digital Influencer Is Adding More Seats to the Table, from Forbes—“My hope is that eventually there are many more women of color who can create their own events and get consulting gigs with these companies. You can’t make a change if you aren’t in the rooms where decisions are being made.”

Meet ‘Black Girl Magic,’ the 19 African-American Women Elected As Judges in Texas, from NPR—“This cycle, Harris County also saw record numbers of Hispanic-American, Asian-American and LGBT candidates. And the more such candidates win, the more it encourages younger people of diverse backgrounds to believe they can do the same.”

Black Women Are Making a Name for Themselves As Tech Entrepreneurs, from USA Today—“We’re in a moment right now, black women, black women founders, Latinx women founders—we’re in a moment where people care. Our goal at digitalundivided is to turn that moment into a movement.”

100+ Books by Black Women That Should Be Essential Reading for Everyone, from PopSugar—“Diverse literature is more essential than ever in today's current climate. Books are some of the best tools for developing tolerance and empathy, and few books are as rich and nuanced as those penned by black women.”

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London Breed Sworn In as First Black Woman to Serve as San Francisco Mayor

San Francisco native and former acting mayor London Breed was sworn in as Mayor of San Francisco yesterday, making her the city’s first black woman to hold the position—and only the second woman overall. A champion of helping everyone, regardless of their circumstances, Breed is a great example of the importance of the voices and influence of women, especially women of color and women from underrepresented groups. Breed’s election also puts her in rare company: The mayors of most of the United States’ largest cities are men, and some large cities like New York or Los Angeles have never had a woman mayor. 

Click through to read an article from PBS NewsHour from the day of Breed's swearing in; with more the election, Breed, and what the milestone means for representation.

By Janie Har

SAN FRANCISCO — London Breed will make history Wednesday as the first black female mayor of San Francisco when she is sworn into office in the city that has come to embody extreme wealth and poverty in the modern age.

She will take the oath outdoors on the steps of City Hall in a public ceremony before at least 1,000 spectators. Afterward, she will meet well-wishers in her new office — an open house tradition that dates back a century.

The 43-year-old Breed succeeds Mayor Ed Lee, whose unexpected death in December prompted a special June election to serve the remainder of his term.

Breed, a San Francisco native, has pledged to address the city’s most pressing problems, including homeless tent camps, open drug use and unbearably high housing prices.

She also says she is committed to ensuring that impoverished African American and other minority children receive the opportunities they need to advance.

Breed grew up in public housing and frequently talks about the tough love and support she had growing up, especially from her grandmother who raised her.

She also learned from mentors and neighbors who early on spotted potential and encouraged her to study hard. Now she will earn an annual salary of $335,996.

Breed was most recently president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors for more than three years,

On Tuesday, colleagues toasted her and outgoing Supervisor Jeff Sheehy at their final meeting.

Breed thanked her colleagues for their dedication and promised to work with them no matter their disagreements.

“You can’t please everyone. Not everyone is going to like you, not everyone is going to do what you want them to do,” she said.

“And what I noticed about this board, and what made me so proud to be a part of it is, we stand our ground, we do what we think is best and we try to fight for the people we represent.”

Image credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

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Why Unmarried Women Voters Will Transform Our Country in 2018

The latest from Page Gardner at Glamour, "Why Unmarried Women Voters Will Transform Our Country in 2018," was on our radar immediately. This influential, pivotal group of U.S. citizens have the potential to make their presence known in critical ways in the coming year, as they turn out to vote for their rights and make their voices heard.

It's been a watershed year for women’s rights. While 2017 continues to be devastating for millions of women, it’s clear that many—particularly women of color, young women, and unmarried women—are poised to transform the future of our country with their voices and their votes in 2018, just as they did in Alabama, Virginia, and other elections this year.

We began 2017 with the Women’s March, the largest protest in U.S. history. We saw four new women senators sworn into office, bringing the number of women in the U.S. Congress to 105 with more than 1,800 of their women colleaguesholding seats in state legislatures.

We’ve seen the long overdue recognition of harassment and discrimination in Hollywood, Congress, journalism, and among the countless women who have been harassed by bosses and colleagues who aren’t well-known enough to be splashed across the front page of The New York Times. And we’ve seen more women than ever raise their hands and run for elected office, more than double the number of women who ran in 2016.

Two thousand and eighteen is going to be an even bigger turning point for women, especially in politics.

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She Persisted: Lessons For Women Leaders On Using Their Voices

taketheleadwomen.com - It’s already a t-shirt, in many different styles from multiple sources, plus it’s  a tote bag. One version is on amazon. Many benefit different organizations, from the Southern Poverty Law Center to the ACLU,  with styles that benefit their causes. “Nevertheless, she persisted,” has become the new mantra for women leaders of all convictions, ideologies and party lines, who want to make a difference, instigate change, build a movement, strive for parity, speak up and speak out.

After Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) was silenced last week on the Senate floor in discussions concerning the confirmation of Jeff Sessions as attorney general, the words of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell became a Twitter hashtag of #ShePersisted, as well as spinoffs onto t-shirts and more.

McConnell was “invoking Rule 19, a rarely used chamber regulation that prohibits senators from impugning each other,” according to CNN. “’She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted,’ the Kentucky Republican said on the Senate floor, delivering an instantly classic line — the kind liberals imagine being replayed ad nauseum in TV ads in a future presidential campaign.”

Read more here.

The poet behind the Statue of Liberty’s ‘Give me your tired, your poor’ stanza

nytlive.nytimes.com - As people took to the streets last weekend to protest President Donald Trump’s controversial order banning the admission of visitors from seven predominantly Muslim countries, many held signs bearing the words that sit emblazoned on the placard beneath the Statue of Liberty. Speaking outside of the Supreme Court building on Monday evening, Nancy Pelosi, Democrat House minority leader, recited the most recognizable passage of the epithet: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” It was, she said, “a statement of values of our country. It’s a recognition that the strength of our country is in our diversity, that the revitalization constantly of America comes from our immigrant population.”

But while these words may have become synonymous with the American definition of liberty,

the author from whose pen they flowed is often overlooked.

When Emma Lazarus, a young, New York poet, was asked in 1883 to write a sonnet to be sold at auction, she could have had little idea that her poem would one day become so significant. The auction was being held to raise money for a base to hold up the Statue of Liberty — a lavish gift from France that few then found particularly inspiring — and Lazarus reluctantly agreed to contribute a sonnet called “The New Colossus,” verbalizing what she imagined the Statue of Liberty might be saying. Her words reflected the focus upon which her life’s writing had been dedicated — anti-Semitism and ethnic prejudice, and her strong advocacy for Jewish refugees fleeing massacre.

11 Resolutions To Make If You're Considering Running For Office In The Next Few Years

bustle.com - For many Americans, November’s election results were (and continue to be) incredibly disheartening — but for some of you, they were also galvanizing, inspiring you to enter the fray and be an agent of change. Fantastic! But where to start? There are things to do if you’re considering running for office in the next few years that will help you get your foot in the door of the political process. Your presidential run might be a long way down the road, but, by making some important resolutions now, you can put yourself on the path to elected office, and you can do a lot of good in the meantime. There have been a lot of think-pieces written in the wake of the election, and no doubt experts will continue to unravel the forces that brought Donald Trump to power for a long time to come, but one thing is clear: Our government could definitively use fresh blood, on both sides of the aisle. It’s especially important that more women become involved in the political process. Women make up more than half of the U.S. population, and yet they fill only 20 percent of seats in the U.S. Congress. The underrepresentation of women in government starts at the local level: A 2016 report from the CUNY Institute of State and Local Governance found that, in the largest 100 American cities, only a third of city council members are women, and only 18 percent of mayors are women. The issue isn’t that women can’t get elected — they can and do — but that they don’t run in the first place; CUNY found that only 19 percent of mayoral candidates are female. The report cites a number of problems that keep women from running, including “gendered social roles, negative self-perceptions, limited exposure to politics, and lack of support.” And, of course, this lack of women getting into politics on the ground floor is bad for gender equality on the national level — because there simply aren’t enough women making it into the top echelons of government.

WIIW Editor and Teen Son Discuss Election, Strong Women and More

The first time my son—now a 14-year-old high school freshman—took an interest in U.S. politics, it was watching two girls (Sasha and Malia Obama) as their father was inaugurated. Now the older of those girls—the daughter of our first African-American president—recently voted for the first time, in an election that almost saw the first woman President of the United States. As a mother who knows it's essential to grow up recognizing that success and inspiration can come from anyone, I'm pretty excited that my son has had such a diverse and inspiring introduction to the leadership of our country.We’ve had hundreds of conversations since that day, and this year we decided to attend rallies to hear both Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton speak in person. It was one of the highlights of our year—and even though a woman still hasn’t been elected president, it was an invaluable opportunity for my son to see these strong, inspiring women. We sat down to discuss our impressions of the rallies, the conversation about women leaders and more.

Kimberly Hosey, Editor in Chief, Women Investing in Women Digital

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Kimberly Hosey: So what do you think about the last few weeks? We’ve been busy: Seeing Michelle Obama, seeing Hillary Clinton, learning about all the candidates, seeing how close she came … and, honestly, being pretty disappointed. What stands out?

David Hosey: Everything! I loved the rallies. I was really hoping to see Hillary Clinton win. I thought she was going to. But it was still interesting to be involved in the political process, even if I can’t vote yet. Also, I definitely wanted to learn more about politics and the candidates, especially because sometimes my friends talk about them and I feel like they don’t have all the information. Now I know more about it, and I can even speak up sometimes.

Kimberly: Is it hard to speak up?

David: A lot of the time it’s hard because we live somewhere where a lot of my friends are from families who have different political opinions from our family, so if I’m sitting at a table at school I might be the only one there with a certain view. But also, sometimes people have some bad ideas about certain issues and people, and I don’t know where to start because we’re not even talking about it the same way.

Kimberly: Like what?

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David: Well, like they don’t always understand LGBT issues or racial issues. I have multiple friends [who are LGBT], and some people think it’s dumb to even care about being sensitive to them. And lately especially, when people talk about Hillary Clinton they just say a few of the same things about her over and over and over. I understand if you don’t agree with her politics, but they just talk about her voice or her husband, or they accuse her of things without giving reasons.

Kimberly: Do you think it’s because she’s a woman?

David: Sometimes, definitely. I think it’s possible to like or not like someone who’s a man or a woman, but when they just accuse her of having a harsh voice even even though male politicians also yell, or when they say she doesn’t “look right” even though she has way more experience, it definitely seems sexist.

Kimberly: I love that you’re having these conversations. Maps projecting what the voting results would have been with only young people voting are really progressive, which is great news for a lot of groups and will be a big difference no matter what. Your generation’s involvement is crucial.

What about when your friends say an opinion isn’t sexist even if you think it is?

David: I don’t know. I can tell it’s sexist in some cases no matter what they say or even if they don’t realize it, but I guess all we can really do is make sure we add in as much information as possible so they have more knowledge the next time. Also, I make sure to listen to what other teens are saying even if I think it’s wrong and then I grant them what points i can before I say something. People are more likely to listen that way, and I learn a few good points.

Do you think some of the criticism of [Clinton] is valid? How can you tell the difference?

Kimberly: I know she can be a polarizing figure, but I do think much of it is unfair. Still, I don't love her unreservedly. I agree with the overwhelming majority of her policies and causes, and I recognize her competence and strength. So criticisms against her qualifications, yeah, I think they're biased. If we're talking about real, researched issues and not personal attacks, it’s more likely to be valid. In some cases the criticism is fair, but even in some of those cases the tone or the extent to which she’s criticized can be overblown compared to the criticism of almost anyone else. I think that difference can often be sexist.

David: But you can’t really prove it, can you?

Kimberly: Maybe not, most of the time. I think when they do things like side-by-side comparisons, which we saw a couple of times during the campaign, it’s pretty obvious. But otherwise, you just have to keep slogging through the conversation point by point, and you eventually make some progress. Kind of the same way Hillary Clinton has kept working so hard! OK, OK, maybe not just like that. But you get the point.

So, back to the rallies. What were your impressions of the rallies? What stuck out for you?

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David: First, I was just excited to go! I can’t believe we got within a couple feet of Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton; that’s cool no matter what. I really wanted to shake their hands, but still, we were some of the front people when they came to speak in Arizona, and Arizona was a big deal this year. It was cool to know there are so many other people in our state who came out for progress, women’s rights, LGBT rights, education and things like that.

I think Michelle Obama’s speech was really, really inspiring. I love how she connected with the crowd, and you could tell she cared about reaching everyone. She’s one of the most inspirational people I know. I know she’s gotten a lot of hate since Barack Obama became president, and she’s been nice the whole time and also inspired everyone.

Kimberly: Why do you think she’s so inspirational to so many people?

David: It seems like she really cares, and she’s also passionate and personal with her message. She doesn’t want people voting or deciding anything out of fear and anger. She kept talking about living up to the best parts of who we are.

Kimberly: She didn’t only talk about good things, though. What about when she talked about women being harassed and assaulted, and how our girls—and boys—deserve better? She was angry about that. People were crying about it. It’s upsetting.

David: That is tough, but it was really important and good to hear. I like that she mentioned sons as well as daughters. I know girls have a lot of struggles, but the idea that boys or men are expected to act a certain way hurts us too. Feminism is against that for girls and boys. I know people who think it’s OK to talk that way about girls or other people, and they don't even understand what feminism is sometimes. Some people think to be a feminist and support women and girls, you have to be against men and boys. That hurts girls, and the idea that we have to act masculine can hurt girls if they're mistreated or boys when they don't get to be themselves—or it might even make it so we're not listened to if we're abused.

Kimberly: So you really liked that Michelle Obama included everyone while still sending a strong message.

David: Yeah. She included everyone—boys and girls—but she did it in a way that made a good point about how we talk about girls and women. I think everyone needs to hear that.

Kimberly: I think one of my favorite parts was when she said “This is what hope looks like. It's that belief that we can do better for our kids. That even in the darkest hours, there's always a brighter day ahead—and if we’re willing to work for it and fight for it, we can make it happen.” You could tell she meant it, and I love that she made hope into something strong.

What do you we can do make it happen?

David: I can keep talking about it, like we were saying. That’s hard to do all the time because sometimes I just want to have a normal day, and then they bring it up. But I can speak out when something is wrong and talk to people who are willing. Also, I like the tallies of students’ votes; I always participate in those. I would like to learn more about politics and maybe volunteer in the community.

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Kimberly: What do you think about the different styles we saw at Michelle Obama's rally and Hillary Clinton's rally? The rallies and how the two main speakers addressed the crowd were pretty different.

David: First, the rallies were kind of different even before we saw the main speakers. At Michelle Obama’s rally it was mostly talking and getting to know each other in the crowd; at Hillary Clinton’s rally it was like a dance party and a fired-up political rally. I thought it was cool that the styles kind of matched how they talked later: Michelle Obama was more uplifting and conversational, and Hillary Clinton was more intense and purposely persuasive. She was also more serious.

Kimberly: Did you like one more than the other?

David: Personally, I preferred one a little bit. But I liked that they both had their own way to be inspirational and strong. What did you think?

Kimberly: Michelle Obama’s style is a little more what people are comfortable with in women. I absolutely love her and I know it’s genuine, but I’ve noticed that a little bit in how people react to her. She’s the epitome of class and grace and she almost never mentions the “other” side by name. She’s easily relatable. She’s even a fashionable dresser.

I think those are all fine qualities, but I think Hillary Clinton’s good qualities are just as important: work ethic, intelligence, seriousness. She’ll call people out. Even some of the “being a politician” that gets her a bad reputation can be a good trait. She even wears pants instead of dresses or skirts most of the time. Hillary Clinton makes a point of being who she is even when it doesn’t match people’s expectations. I like that.

David: Both women are most of those things. Intelligent and inspiring and all the other good qualities.

Kimberly: Oh, absolutely. I just think we have a lot of male candidates or leaders who get to be known for being a certain way; whether that’s a good listener, a powerful speaker, a fiery leader, a cheerful man of the people or a grouchy advocate for what’s right. Men can be loud or quiet. Men can be attractive or not as attractive, thin or fat, young or old. And we don’t spend nearly as much time talking about what they wear.

David: They’re more encouraged to be strong in different ways than women are.

Kimberly: Exactly! I think that’s such a loss. Especially since Hillary Clinton was trying to integrate some of the gentle traits as well as the powerful ones. In her concession speech she said that it was “about the country we love and about building an America that's hopeful, inclusive and big-hearted.” I like that she thinks being compassionate is strong.

David: Me too. And if more girls and women are encouraged to be that way, which they already should be, without it being something against their gender; then it will help boys too. Being understanding or anything else isn’t a male or female thing. It’s just a human thing.

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The Simple Trick Women in the White House Use to Stop Getting Interrupted

Teamwork is one of the fundamental components in a functioning business. Especially in male-dominated workplaces, it is imperative that women work together to allow each other's voices to be heard. The method we explore in this article is useful across the board in women's lives—school, work, social environments, and more. Check it out below and click through to read the whole article, and let's start sticking together and sticking up for each other!

-Victoria Mendoza

themuse.com - Competition in the workplace is normal, if not necessary, in some cases for survival.

When discussing how her lack of competitiveness held her back in her career, Muse writer Kat Boogaard says, “I’m a firm believer that the world would be a much better place if we all focused on supporting and encouraging one another…However, I’ve also learned another important lesson: As nice as that all sounds, things don’t necessarily work this way when it comes to your own career. The working world can be frustratingly cutthroat at times.”

And she’s right—you’re not going to get that promotion unless you work harder and faster than other people, you’re not going to score that big project unless you prove it to your boss that you deserve it, and you’re not even going to snag the last piece of birthday cake unless you get to the office kitchen first.

But let’s play devil’s advocate for a second here. What if we put aside our own individual ladders and starting climbing up together? Would that get us anywhere?

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Woman President Shows Malawi the Way

Malawi’s President Joyce Banda took office during a difficult time economically and politically, in addition to being first woman to be head of state in southern Africa. She is a true leader, for her country as well as for women: Banda has appointed women to key positions since taking power, and even before taking office she spearheaded efforts such as founding National Association for Business Women.

She sat down with IPS News to discuss the link between women's empowerment and sustainable development, health care and education for women and girls, upcoming legislation that will empower and protect women, and much more.

ipsnews.net - Malawi’s President Joyce Banda knows a thing or two about women’s empowerment. After all she is the first female southern African head of state.

But she has not had it easy. Banda had a tough job fixing a sputtering economy after taking over from her predecessor Bingu wa Mutharika who died in office on April 5, 2012. In 2011 the country witnessed nationwide protests against Mutharika and the failing economy. The United Kingdom, Malawi’s largest donor, had suspended $550 million in aid after Mutharika expelled its ambassador for calling him an autocrat.

But she did succeed. Since taking office she has implemented of a number of austerity measures, which included selling the country’s presidential jet for $15 million and taking a 30 percent cut in her salary. She also embarked on a range of reforms that not everyone has agreed with. The most controversial has been cultivating closer ties with international financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund, which is known for its heavy-handed austerity plans.

But in June, the World Bank said the country’s economy was recovering, with manufacturing expected to grow 6 percent and agriculture 5.7 percent.

In September 2012, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute reported that since Mutharika’s increasingly autocratic rule ended, respect for democracy and human rights has returned to the country under Banda’s presidency.

Read more, including excerpts from the interview, here.

Gender Still Matters

Madeleine May Kunin; former governor of Vermont and author of “The New Feminist Agenda, Defining the Next Revolution for Women, Work and Family;” discusses why gender is still a crucial issue—we have come a long way, but we still have a long way to go.

huffingtonpost.com - Gender bias continues to hover over both male and female voters as they assess a woman's credentials for the presidency. Bias is so subtle that even feminists may not find it in themselves. Today, some women pride themselves in believing that we live in a post feminist society, where there is no longer a need to support women, just as some claim that we live in a post racist society. We may be seeing a new phase of liberation where people can proclaim that they do not have to loyal to either gender or race.

Wait a minute. Yes, progress in both racial and gender justice has been enormous. Once upon a time, when I served in the Vermont legislature, married women couldn't have their own names in the telephone book or obtain a mortgage in their own name. Times have changed, but one look at any group photo of the global leaders tells us who rules the world. If it were not for the suits and German Chancellor Angela Merkel's skirt, then they could pass for a men's soccer team.

The number of women in the United States Congress is at a record high at 19.4 percent. We still are obliged to include decimal points to boost the number. We cannot stop promoting (qualified) women in leadership until the number reaches 50 percent, not just because of gender, but because political leadership will look more like American voters. Studies have shown that corporations which have a significant number of women and people of color on their boards did better than all white male boards during the 2008 recession. Diversity in the workplace mirrors diversity in political leadership; it is guaranteed to produce different outcomes in some areas.

Read more here.

Why This Organization Wants to Help Get More Latinas Elected to Office

Especially in an election year, the fight for inclusion and representation is essential. One group, Emily's List, is working hard to get Democratic women elected--and they're looking to be more inclusive of non-white women as well, advocating to get more Latina women elected to office. Learn more about their efforts at the link. latina.com - Latinas are vastly underrepresented in U.S. government, and Emily's List, one of the largest organizations for women in politics, is starting a new initiative to help change that.

“As the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, we understand the power Latinas hold – at the ballot box and on the ballot itself. While Emily’s List has played a role in electing every Democratic Latina currently serving in Congress, we know we need to do more and now is the time,” said Stephanie Schriock, president of Emily’s List, in a press release. “The stakes in this election could not be higher — for Latinas and for all of us. With Donald Trump leading the Republican fight to divide our nation and roll back opportunities for women, Latinas will not sit on the sidelines. Together, we will work to break down barriers, not build walls.”

The group has already established a national Latina Advisory Council, where leading Latinas in politics, business and civil rights services work together to get pro-choice democratic mujeres elected to public office by reaching out to voters.

Read more here.

5 Things Politicians Need to Know About Millennial Women to Get Their Votes

Younger voters and women are often much-coveted demographics in political elections. This year, politicians and political analysts are taking a closer look at Millennial women. Their experiences are unique, as are their outlooks, struggles and issues that most concern them. Fortune.com covers a recent national survey illuminating five key points that anyone should keep in mind, if they want to respect and win over Millennial women.  fortune.com - Young women have been central to discussions of the Democratic Party nomination contest between Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT). Despite sweeping assumptions about young voters and this election, millennials have a relationship with feminism and these two candidates that plays out differently across ethnicities and lifestage in particular.

Specifically, a new national, proprietary, third-party validated survey of more than 1,600 women fielded by SheKnows Media found that there are nuances between those aged 25 to 29 versus those who are aged 30 to 34, and that women of color of all ages often feel excluded from the feminist movement.

1. Women in their late 20s most strongly identify as feminists: Millennial women between the ages of 25 and 29 most strongly identify as being feminist compared to their younger (18-15) and older (30-34) generational counterparts. Fifty-four percent of women in this age group responded to the question with an unequivocal “yes,” matching the passion of Boomer feminists who saw the gains of the second-wave feminist movement first-hand.

Read more here.

6 Reasons women support Justin Trudeau

From his push for greater diversity, to his advocacy for First Nations citizens, to his support of clean technologies; Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada has made waves and won supporters since before his election. So it should come as no surprise that the leader of the Liberal Party supports—and is supported by—women. Check out this article from SheKnows listing just a few of the reasons women support Justin Trudeau.

sheknows.com - Image: Chesnot/Getty Images

If you can say anything about Canada's new PM, he certainly has made an impression on women voters. A new survey of over 8,000 Quebecers proves this, as it found that women and young people (aged 18 – 24) were among the biggest fans of Justin Trudeau.

More: Trudeau's response to the question of gender-balance is perfect

The poll found that while 55 percent of Quebecers approved of Trudeau's work so far, that number was higher among women than men — with 58 percent of women reporting that they felt "satisfied" with what Trudeau has accomplished in his first 100 days in office.

And why is Trudeau popular with women? Because he's done the following things:

1. Trudeau is proud to call himself a feminist

I am a feminist. I’m proud to be a feminist. #upfordebate

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) September 21, 2015

Trudeau isn't afraid of the F-word, which no politician should be in 2016. He's called himself a feminist many times, crediting his mother for his feminist education: “My mom raised me to be a feminist," explained Trudeau this fall at an Up For Debate event. "My father raised me — he was a different generation — but he raised me to respect and defend everyone’s rights, and I deeply grounded my own identity in that, and I am proud to say that I am a feminist.”

Read the rest of the article here. Also check out the SheKnows slideshow introducing the 15 women appointed to Canada's new cabinet. We'll leave you with a video Trudeau posted to Twitter late last month, commemorating the 100-year anniversary of Manitoba women getting the right to vote:

100 years ago today, Manitoba women won the right to vote – the first victory for women’s suffrage in this country.https://t.co/HgCybKY3hX

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 28, 2016