We women went out and voted in record numbers in the election this week in the U.S. Women of all colors, ethnicities, races, socio-economic statuses and sexual orientations voted to re-elect President Obama. Likewise, women’s votes (and women candidates) made great strides with states like New Hampshire sending all women senators and representatives to Washington, and also electing a woman Governor. Landmark evens like the election of Massachusetts’ first female senator in candidate Elizabeth Warren and the election of openly lesbian candidate Tammy Baldwin were standard in this election instead of a single incidence across the country. The voices of the less-often-heard-from were heard loud and clear in the act of voting.
Maine, Washington and Maryland passed laws adding these states to the number that allow same-sex marriage. Minnesota defeated a measure that would have defined marriage through a Constitutional amendment as between one man and one woman. While the fact that these things come to a popular vote on a ballot remains disturbing, steps forward cannot be denied with these positive results.
Republican candidates who make bogus claims about biology, which they clearly do not understand in even the most rudimentary manner, were ousted from positions and lost their elections. Those who would claim that “legitimate” rape (a phrase some of us are still wondering about the meaning of) cannot result in pregnancy were schooled on what happens when their views about abortion itself get taken to an extreme and demonstrate their ignorance of basic biological science. Those who claimed that women who underwent abortions after discovering pregnancies after rape were punishing the child or not valuing “God’s gift,” learned that not only are women tired of men trying to determine what goes on in their bodies, but also that we’re tired of being blamed as victims of what is a violent crime.
As if all of this news about gains made by women in office was not enough, I want to share something personal about this election. At 1:43a.m. EST on November 7, 2012, while I listened to news reports and the President’s acceptance speech, my daughter who is away at college sent me a text saying, “For the first time, really, I am proud to say I’m an American! And, it feels so good to be able to say that!” At that moment, I thought back to September 11, 2001 when the terrorist attacks occurred. That was when my daughter’s faith in her country began to wane—at the ripe age of six! Over the years, she has been grateful for our country and its freedoms, for the efforts of our troops in every conflict throughout history and for keeping us safe at home. She has appreciated the open discussion even if it has turned nasty at times. She’s appreciated the freedom to express her opinion, and realizes the privilege it is to live in a country where she, as a woman, will be able to vote at eighteen, and can seek not only education, but also have an almost equal chance at finding a job with that college education as a woman. (Some might argue that she’d be more likely than a man to get a job, while others would say that she’d get the job, but only because she’d work for 77% of what a man would be paid for the same position.) These (and more) benefits of being a citizen of the United States have not been lost on her. However, in this election, even more than in 2008, her hope (yes, that word from the Obama campaign) that real change can occur has been realized. She has not only come of age when this nation elected the first African American President, but also then re-elected him, and sent more women into Congress and various legislatures across the country. Here’s to you, women voters of America!
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