Year of the Woman

“Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.”

- William Congreve, The Mourning Bride

Since the beginning of politics, women have been fighting for their right to be heard. Yet despite the fact that half of the American population identifies as female, less than 25% of the positions in elected office are held by women.

This year women are rising up to take on more political leadership roles at every level of government, from local city commission seats to national senate chairs. Over 250 women have qualified to be on the November ballot for the midterm elections in Congress, an institution where men overwhelming hold the majority in both houses. It’s an incredible feat, but first we have to answer one question: Why are so many women running this election season?

The most simple answer: because women are angry. We’re angry about this country’s current situation. We’re angry with how local governments are addressing issues, how our national government is disregarding critical human rights, and how blatant misogyny is considered acceptable behavior in the most powerful institutions of this country. More women are running because we’re tired of our issues being ignored.

This isn’t the first ‘Year of the Woman’. In 1992 an unprecedented number of women ran for political seats in every branch and level of government. The catalyst of this phenomenon was the appointment of Clarence Thomas to the U.S. Supreme Court, after Anita Hill gave a moving testimony to an “all-white, all-male Judiciary Committee” about Thomas’ history of sexual harassment. Women all over the country watched this hearing, and the bitter outrage of the disregard to Hill’s statements motivated women to step up and fight for respect and equality. After the Kavanaugh hearings this past October, women are feeling the same anger at this deja-vu like occurrence. On top of all that. our current administration has a lack of respect for women and allows for disgusting presidential behavior, women have the right to be angry.

This ‘Year of the Woman’ will remarkably alter the course of politics in America just as it did in 1992, and will inspire future generations of women to keep striving for equality in the male-dominated political field. 2018 might be considered the ‘Year of the Woman’ now, but soon this phenomenon won’t be constrained to just a year. We’ll keep marching, fighting and running until there is truly equal representation in the most influential institutions in this nation.

“There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish.”

- Michelle Obama