1992: The Year of the Woman

By Sean Skoog, Summer 2023 Power in Place Collaborator

Image by: Library of Congress

The year 1992 holds a special place as the "Year of the Woman" in the United States Senate. It was a transformative time when women shattered glass ceilings and made their presence felt in the hallowed halls of Congress. In this blog, we will delve into the groundbreaking achievements and significant milestones that marked the extraordinary 1992 year for women in the US Senate.

Elections in 1992 saw an unprecedented wave of women succeeding in being elected to the US Senate. Inspired by the Anita Hill hearings and determined to bring about change, a record-breaking number of female candidates ran for office. This groundbreaking movement resulted in the election of four new women senators, tripling the number of women in the Senate from two to six. These trailblazers were Carol Moseley Braun (D-IL), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Barbara Boxer (D-CA), who joined incumbent senators Nancy Kassebaum (R-KS) and Barbara Mikulski (D-MD).

The success of these formidable women senators not only marked a numerical increase in female representation but also brought diverse perspectives and priorities to the forefront of national policymaking. With their presence, previously marginalized issues such as healthcare, education, and women's rights gained prominence on the Senate agenda. These women spearheaded legislation that championed gender equality, economic justice and social progress.

The six women senators of 1992 recognized the historic nature of their success and fostered a sense of camaraderie and solidarity. They formed a bipartisan caucus known as the "Women's Senate Network" to support each other's efforts and advance policies benefiting women and families. By transcending party lines, they showcased the power of collaboration and created a supportive space for other women senators to join in the future.

The presence of these six women senators had an important impact on national legislation. They played instrumental roles in sponsoring and passing landmark bills, such as the Family and Medical Leave Act, which provided job-protected leave for employees to care for family members. Additionally, they fought for the Violence Against Women Act, which addressed domestic violence and sexual assault, and made significant strides in improving access to healthcare, education, and environmental protections.

The 1992 Year of the Woman in the US Senate inspired countless women across the nation to pursue careers in politics and public service. The success of these trailblazing senators challenged traditional gender roles and encouraged young women to believe in their ability to effect change. Their legacy continues to resonate, as subsequent elections have seen a steady increase in female representation in the Senate, building upon the foundation laid by these pioneering women.

This monumental year in the US Senate was a transformative chapter in American history, as women shattered barriers and made their voices heard in the highest legislative body. The historic election of four new women senators and the subsequent increase in female representation brought fresh perspectives, diverse priorities, and a renewed focus on gender equality to the forefront of national policymaking. Their collective achievements continue to inspire future generations of women to break barriers, fight for justice, and reshape the political landscape for a more inclusive and equitable society.

References

[1] “Year of the Woman,” U.S. Senate. November 3, 1992. https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/year_of_the_woman.htm.

Sean Skoog is a rising junior at the University of Michigan majoring in Political Science. In his free time, he enjoys discussing and analyzing politics, traveling, and spending time with friends and family. One day, he hopes to be a campaign strategist for a high profile campaign.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the Religion That Guided Her

By Kate Vavra, Summer 2023 Power in Place Collaborator

Image from: Flickr via the Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States

Ruth Bader Ginsburg will forever be remembered as being the second woman, as well as the first Jewish woman, to be placed on the United States Supreme Court. However, decades before she was appointed by Bill Clinton, young Ginsburg lived in Brooklyn with her family where the presence of Judaism would guide her towards her future political career. Ginsburg’s father immigrated to New York from Russia, and her mother was a first generation Polish American. Ginsburg’s parents raised her Jewish, and the family was involved in the faith throughout her childhood. 

Brooklyn has had a large Jewish population for generations, so Ginsburg grew up in a vibrant religious and cultural community. During Ginsbrug’s childhood years, much of the Jewish American community had a strong yearning to be good Americans and help work towards a better nation, all while holding on to their Jewish heritage. Many of them faced the daily detriment of antisemitism, but they continued to work hard to climb the ladder of society. These ideals and attitudes were undoubtedly given to Ginsburg. Her mother, who passed away before Ginsburg graduated high school, guided young Ginsburg to strive for academic excellence and to build a career for herself. This influence led the way for Ginsburg to be accepted into the prestigious Cornell University, where she continued to push herself academically and graduated as the highest ranked female in her class. From Cornell, she went on to study at Harvard Law School and Columbia Law School, each of which are one of the best law programs in the nation. This advanced education, inspired by her Jewish roots, gifted Ginsburg with the skills and expertise that allowed her to reach her dreams of becoming a Supreme Court justice and changing the country forever. 

Additionally, Ginsburg has referenced the ways in which the scars of the Holocaust have influenced her views on legislation and justice.  In 2004, Ginsburg spoke at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and stated “in the Capitol, the lawmaking heart of our nation, in close proximity to the Supreme Court, we remember in sorrow that Hitler’s Europe, his Holocaust kingdom, was not lawless. Indeed, it was a kingdom full of laws, laws deployed by highly educated people — teachers, lawyers, and judges — to facilitate oppression, slavery and mass murder” [1]. These words convey how Ginsburg recognizes that discrimination can and does happen within the law, so it is necessary that legal systems must be constantly challenged and upheld. She got rid of language on certificates that framed the calendar year as Christian. She successfully pushed the court to not hear cases on Yom Kippur, and the practice is still upheld today. For years, Ginsburg led the fight against the discrimination of women. She successfully argued six landmark cases throughout the 1970’s in front of the Supreme Court, before she was even an appointed justice. It is clear how much Ginsburg stood up for minorities during her time on the Court. 

Ginsburg’s identity as a Jew inspired her to have empathy for unprivileged groups who do not hold power in society. She felt compelled to use her influence to protect these individuals. Ginsburg knew that the legal system needed to be modernized, and although it would prove to be long and difficult, she chose to work within the legal system, instead of outside, to create advancements. These actions reflect the popular opinions of the American Jewish population during this time period. Most American Jews believed that laws existed to protect them and other minorities, and although the laws may be flawed, the government is responsible for making changes for them to thrive. 

Although in the past Ginsburg had stated how she does not see herself as devoutly religious, she always identified as a proud Jewish woman. She was clearly connected with the Jewish culture, customs, and values. Ginsburg found political inspiration within Judaism, proving how one’s upbringing has the capacity to shape the trajectory of their life. 

References 

[1] Brockell, Gillian. “How Jewish History and The Holocaust Fueled Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Quest For Justice” The Washington Post Sept 2019, 2020. https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2020/09/19/rbg-ruth-bader-ginsburg-holocaust-jewish/ 

[2] Mineo, Liz. “The Life and Legacy of RBG” The Harvard Gazette Sept 20, 2020. https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/09/harvard-community-reflects-on-the-life-achievements-of-ruth-bader-ginsburg/ 

[3] Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Oyez, https://www.oyez.org/justices/ruth_bader_ginsburg#:~:text=In%20this%20position,%20she%20led,were%20discriminated%20against%20as%20well 

[4] Shimron, Yonat. “Ruth Bader Ginsburg Was Passionate About Judaism’s Concern For Justice” The Washington Post Sept 18, 2020. https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2020/09/18/ruth-bader-ginsburg-was-passionate-about-judaisms-concern-justice/ 

[5] Shimron, Yonat. “Ruth Bader Ginsburg Was Shaped By Her Minority Faith” The Washington Post Sept 19, 2020. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/ruth-bader-ginsburg-was-shaped-by-her-minority-faith/2020/09/19/45f02f3e-fa9d-11ea-85f7-5941188a98cd_story.html 

Kate Vavra is a rising sophomore at Mount Holyoke College and is double majoring in International Relations and French. On campus, Kate plays varsity tennis and serves as the Community Service Subcommittee Chair on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee. After graduation, Kate hopes to go to law school and become an attorney.

The Parentification of Eldest Daughters: Pros and Cons

By Maddie Possamai, Summer 2023 Collaborator at Power in Place

Image by: Lilli Carré / New York Times

Parentification occurs when the eldest child assumes caregiving responsibilities within the family. This can include caring for their siblings as a “third parent,” or an abundance of unequally distributed housework. This process is primarily found in firstborn daughters. The eldest daughters often fall victim to this role reversal due to traditional gender roles and societal expectations. Parentification is often regarded as a negative outlook. Although many negative effects may come from this such as suppressed needs, people-pleasing and anxiety, being the eldest daughter also comes with heightened leadership and emotional skills along with a well-developed sense of independence. 

The causes of parentification have been studied by psychologists today. Doctor Sabrina Romanoff states that the main causes of parentification of children include emotional immaturity from parents, overwhelming responsibilities and lack of support. However, girls between the ages of five and fourteen years old spend 40 percent more time on domestic work such as cleaning or taking care of siblings than young boys of that same age. The societal expectation of girls and young women to do domestic work and take on a so-called “parent” role is prominent in household functions. The installment of gendered roles is due to the parent's understanding of domestic work being “traditionally feminine” thus subconsciously assigning the eldest daughter such work. Working mothers may also subconsciously cause parentification on the oldest daughter due to being busy with work and having to provide for the family, leaving the eldest daughter to do domestic work at home. This causes the eldest daughters to pick up the domestic work that the mother was not able to get to. 

In certain circumstances, young women who assume caregiving responsibilities may be stricken with negative effects. A common effect of parentification includes suppressed needs as young women learn that their needs and emotions are an inconvenience as they are eager to please their parents. This leads to another effect of people pleasing. Many eldest daughters who are victims of parentification tend to be people pleasers which is due to the suppressed needs that young women face as they take on more caregiving roles and nurturing responsibilities. Due to the fact that eldest daughters who have experienced parentification assume caregiving and parental roles, they lose time for their own emotions. Eldest daughters are taught that their own emotions are inconvenient therefore causing a loss of self in order to maintain relationships with their parental figures while simultaneously doing domestic work. As a result of parentification, eldest daughters may also be diagnosed with anxiety. A study showed that firstborn daughters have more anxiety than other siblings which is a result of the intense workload that comes from the process of parentification. Due to the expectations that the firstborn daughter has to be the second or the third caretaker of their siblings and other domestic work, the eldest daughters take on adult stressors and anxieties at a young age and into adulthood. 

Although many negative effects arise from the parentification of eldest daughters, being the firstborn daughter also comes with its perks. One of the strengths of being the eldest daughter is extremely high emotional intelligence. Even though this is due to having their needs suppressed, eldest daughters tend to have the ability to be extremely empathic and feel the emotions of others. Eldest daughters who have experienced parentification are shown to have a heightened sense of compassion which is also the result of taking care of their siblings. Eldest daughters who have taken on the responsibilities of taking care of their siblings are able to cultivate a deeper understanding of others’ needs and emotions. Another strength of being the firstborn is that eldest daughters have heightened leadership skills. Due to assuming parental responsibilities, eldest daughters become more responsible and organized in completing household tasks, therefore, nurturing leadership skills. Leadership skills not only include being responsible and organized, but also communication and problem solving which are learned and developed through parentification. These traits can translate into professional and academic success. Eldest children are sixteen percent more likely to succeed academically than younger siblings and eldest daughters are 4 percent more likely to succeed than eldest sons.

Prime examples of successful firstborn daughters are Kamala Harris and Hilary Clinton. Harris and Clinton exemplify excellent leadership abilities and high emotional intelligence such as empathy in a sense that is unique to their birth order. Both Clinton and Harris have been many “firsts” for women in politics and continue to lead with grace and empathy. Other successful, eldest daughters include Beyonce and Oprah Winfrey. Author Lisette Schuitemaker wrote a book in 2016 called “The Eldest Daughter Effect,” published in 2016 after Hilary Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, and Beyonce were incredibly high on the Forbes list of the world's most powerful women. It analyzes the question of what these women have in common. Schuitemaker’s answer? They are all eldest daughters.

References

[1] Gifford, Bonnie. “What is parentification, who does it affect, and is it always bad?” Happiful. February 15, 2023. https://happiful.com/what-is-parentification

[2] Gupta, Sanjana. “What is Parentification?” Verywellmind. January 5, 2023. https://www.verywellmind.com/parentification-types-causes-and-effects-7090611

[3] Hu, Yang. “What is 'eldest daughter syndrome' and how can we fix it?” Brainstorm. April 17, 2023. https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2023/0417/1377341-eldest-daughter-syndrome-siblings-parents-family/#:~:text=Mirroring%20the%20gender%20divide%20among,the%20burden%20among%20her%20siblings.

[4] “How people-pleasing develops in young children? Signs to spot and what parents should do to avoid it.” The Times of India. August 13, 2022. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/parenting/moments/how-people-pleasing-develops-in-young-children-signs-to-spot-and-what-parents-should-do-to-avoid-it/photostory/93525161.cms?from=mdr#:~:text=Nicole%20LePera%2C%20a%20psychologist%20and,relationship%20with%20the%20parent%20figure.%22

[5] Wood, Karly. “Study Says Eldest Daughters Have More Anxiety than Siblings, Surprising No One.” Tinybeans. August 31, 2022. https://tinybeans.com/first-born-children-anxiety/

Maddie Possamai is a rising junior at Wheaton College in Massachusetts majoring in Political Science with minors in Journalism and Visual Arts. At Wheaton College she is currently working on creating a Commuters Organization on campus to advocate for more benefits for commuter students. After graduating college, Maddie hopes to work in Political Journalism. 

Affirmative Action’s Perfect Baby - Sonia Sotomayor

By Kaitlyn Nguyen, Summer 2023 Collaborator at Power in Place

Image from: United States Supreme Court

While the idea of a woman in influential positions is relatively attainable today, it hasn’t always been this way. In fact, many modern females were the first to trailblaze success in their academic occupations. For instance, Sonia Sotomayor, a current justice on the Supreme Court, was the first Latino and third woman to serve in her position. Despite achieving accomplishments that are out of reach for most people, Sotomayor actually came from a humble background that tethered her access to resources early on. It was perseverance and a hard work ethic that enabled Sotomayor to even level the playing field among her peers. In light of recent precedents on affirmative action, Sonia Sotomayor is emblematic of equity as someone who benefited from affirmative action as a woman seeking higher education and a Latina with immigrant parents. 

Sotomayor grew up in the Bronx, where she lived with her Puerto Rican family in a city-owned housing project. In the area she lived in, her community thrived off of ethnically diverse working-class families. After graduating high school, the future Justice attained a full-ride scholarship to Princeton University and graduated with Summa Cum Laude Honors. Afterward, she attended Yale Law School, where she graduated in 1979. Yet, even in university, Sotomayor noticed how far behind she was from her peers in standardized measures of intelligence. She said, “I am a product of affirmative action. I am the perfect affirmative-action baby. I am Puerto Rican, born and raised in the South Bronx. My test scores were not comparable to my colleagues at Princeton and Yale.” Yet, despite having a late start in comparison to her peers, Sotomayor quickly proved her competence by outperforming her class. 

Later on, she was nominated to the United States District Court in 1992 for New York by the Bush Administration, which made her the youngest judge to ever join the court at just 38 years old. And in 2009, President Barack Obama nominated her to the Supreme Court, thereby celebrating her career as an affluent and reputable judge. Sotomayor was known for her thoughtful considerations and rational rulings. Her nomination was an eminent moment for the Latino community and young female scholars alike. And as she achieved greatness, Sotomayor never downplayed her extraordinary access to higher education. Throughout her school and work career, she prioritized hiring a diverse staff, which was prompted by the lack of women and ethnic minorities she encountered in her academic institutions. Furthermore, she personally worked on projects that prioritized the need for affordable housing, which paid homage to the home she grew up in. 

Sotomayor credits all of her accomplishments as a result of affirmative action, which exposed her to an environment that diversified her understanding of the world. However, with the recent overturning of historic precedents on the topic, Sotomayor has taken to heart the impact this will have on the college admissions process. Affirmative action pertains to any underrepresented group in society. It acknowledges women, Native Americans, Hispanics, and other minority groups that have historically been excluded from academic conversations. The natural criteria for it are race, gender, disability, ethnic origin, and age, which is how Sotomayor benefited as a Latina woman in the college admissions process.  In her opening statement on Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard College and University of North Carolina, Sotomayor argued that racial equality could be “enforced through race-conscious means in a society that is not, and never has been colorblind.” As a product of affirmative action herself, Sotomayor has always believed that equal access to opportunity is a prerequisite for race neutrality. According to her, the only way to “stop discrimination on the basis of race is to speak openly and candidly on the subject of race, and to apply the Constitution with eyes open to the unfortunate effects of centuries of racial discrimination.” This acknowledgment comes first and foremost in creating a race-impartial society. 

Yet, Sotomayor’s lifetime accomplishments are utterly symbolic of race-conscious decisions in the college admissions process. Sotomayor is a beacon of capability and aptitude amongst underrepresented social groups.  And lastly, her adversity in breaking barriers that hindered her access to opportunity demonstrates the power of affirmative action. Sonia Sotomayor is the perfect affirmative-action baby. 

References

[1] Acevedo, Nicole. “Sotomayor and Jackson Slan Idea that U.S. is ‘Colorblind’”. NBC News. June 29, 2023. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/sotomayor-jackson-write-strong-dissents-affirmative-action-rcna91817 

[2] Alvarado, Elisabeth. “40 Inspiring Sonia Sotomayor Quotes”. Spanish Mama. September 21, 2021. https://spanishmama.com/sonia-sotomayor-quotes-and-books/ 

[3] Angelucci, Ashley. “Sonia Sotomayor”. National Women’s History Museum. September 1, 2021. https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/sonia-sotomayor 

[4] Parrott-Sheffer, Chelsey. “Sonia Sotomayor”. Britannica. June 30, 2023. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sonia-Sotomayor 

[5] Politico Staff. “Read the Dissents in the Supreme Court Ruling Against Affirmative Action”. Politico. June 29, 2023.

Kaitlyn Nguyen is a rising sophomore majoring in Political Science at UCLA. She’s aiming to pursue a minor in social data analysis, with a concentration in international politics. On campus, Kaitlyn works to provide free resources for homeless women and children in the downtown region of Los Angeles. In her free time, she loves cooking and whipping up drinks as a barista! This summer, she’s working part time at a cute local cafe and interning for PiP! 

The Double Standard of Being Loud

By Maddie Possamai, Summer 2023 Collaborator at Power in Place

Images by Gage Skidmore and Davey D. Cook

Societal gender norms and expectations have long dictated the social perceptions of men and women, causing an entire society to believe that one must act or present themselves a certain way. Women have been encouraged to be soft-spoken and reserved whereas men are motivated to be assertive and dominating. In recent years we have seen many women, especially women in power begin to express themselves in an assertive and loud way. However, this has caused a negative stereotype to perpetuate, especially about women of color who choose to express themselves loudly.  

Throughout history, gender stereotypes have been prominent in society. Growing up, girls are constantly being told “act like a lady” but how does one “act like a lady” According to gendered expectations, to “act like a lady” is to be polite and submissive and let the men take charge because the men are encouraged to take up space, be a leader and be vocal. When a woman is spoken and takes up space, they are seen as aggressive whereas men are viewed as assertive. Men who talk loud or a lot are told they have a “booming voice” whereas women are “loud and annoying.” Women who fight for the things that they want and take initiative are considered “bossy” whereas men who do the same are considered “confident.”  This creates a barrier for women fighting for employment and places in the office as many places enforce these negative stereotypes. It is prominently seen with elected women or women running for political office. 

Women of color especially deal with the consequences of this gender role as many are stereotyped as “loud” or “angry” black women or “spicy” Latinas. These stereotypes characterize women of color as hostile or aggressive therefore causing their male counterparts to be less receptive to their ideas. Women of color in power such as Kamala Harris and Michelle Obama have dealt with the consequences of this stereotype in their places of power. In Michelle Obama's book, she states that she is “louder than the average human being” and that she has “no fear of speaking [her] mind” but that those “traits don't come from the color of [her] skin but the unwavering belief in [her] own intelligence.” Obama has been a victim of the “loud, angry black woman” especially while former president Barrack Obama was running for his first term. Michelle Obama fought this stereotype during an interview with Oprah Winfrey stating that she just plans on being true to herself. This stereotype, however, was not present with any former first lady (which had all been white) or any former president (which had all been white men). 

“I admit it: I am louder than the average human being and I have no fear of speaking my mind. These traits don’t come from the color of my skin, but from an unwavering belief in my own intelligence.” Michelle Obama 

Similarly, in the 2020 presidential debate with former vice president Pence, Vice President, Kamala Harris had the quick response “Mr. Vice President I’m speaking,” when Pence hastily cut off Harris during the debate. Pence, a white man, had no regard for Harris’ time during the debate, leading to Kamala Harris’ famous words. Vice President Harris stated in an interview that she was prepped for interruptions as Pence interrupted her sixteen times. Harris received praise from women, however, she was still turned into a meme after the debate due to her response to Pence whereas former Vice President Pence was only turned into a meme due to a fly on his head. The Vice Presidential debate showed how women, especially women of color who speak their minds are are “loud women” are not taken seriously and that their words, thoughts, intelligence, and ideas are looked over and shrugged upon due to the color of their skin and the gender they identify with. 

The stereotypes in our society today, however prominent, must be challenged to liberate women from gendered expectations and allow them to reach their full potential. A society, where women can speak up and take up space without fear of retaliation, allows for more diverse participation of voices where decisions are being made such as in public office, workplaces, elections, etc. Women in power such as Kamala Harris and Michelle Obama have begun to pave the way for other women of color who have been victims of this negative stereotype, by speaking up for what they believe in and not being afraid to take up space. By challenging these gendered societal norms that loud women are aggressive but loud men are assertive, it would create more opportunities for women to assume office and disband the negative stereotype of women of color. 

References

[1] Groskop, Viv. “In Praise of Loud Women – the Joy and Power of Being Noisy and Female.” The Guardian, 6 Nov. 2018. The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/nov/06/in-praise-of-loud-women-the-joy-and-power-of-being-noisy-and-female.

[2] Liptak, Kevin. “Michelle Obama Says ‘angry Black Woman’ Label Rooted in Fear | CNN Politics.” CNN, 19 Dec. 2016, https://www.cnn.com/2016/12/19/politics/michelle-obama-oprah-angry-black-woman/index.html.

[3] Motro, Daphna, et al. “The ‘Angry Black Woman’ Stereotype at Work.” Harvard Business Review, 31 Jan. 2022. hbr.org, https://hbr.org/2022/01/the-angry-black-woman-stereotype-at-work.

[4] Smith, Reiss. “Kamala Harris Shutting down Mike Pence at the Vice Presidential Debate Has Already Been Remixed into a Lady Gaga Track.” PinkNews | Latest Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Trans News | LGBTQ+ News, 8 Oct. 2020, https://www.thepinknews.com/2020/10/08/kamala-harris-mike-pence-im-speaking-vice-presidential-debate-chromatica-meme/.

Maddie Possamai is a rising junior at Wheaton College in Massachusetts majoring in Political Science with minors in Journalism and Visual Arts. At Wheaton College she is currently working on creating a Commuters Organization on campus to advocate for more benefits for commuter students. After graduating college, Maddie hopes to work in Political Journalism. 

Margaret Foley: The Life and Legacy of a Queer Suffragette

By Emma Quirk, Summer 2023 Collaborator at Power in Place

Margaret Foley was an activist who fought hard for the suffrage movement. She is best remembered as “the Heckler,” a woman who was loud about what she cared about, unafraid to interrupt men, and captivated her audiences when she spoke. Foley is credited with pushing multiple anti-suffrage politicians out of their positions in public office. 

Born in 1873 to Irish immigrant parents in Dorchester Massachusetts, her working-class background separated her from the majority of the well-known suffragettes, who were generally middle to upper-class. Foley worked in a hatmaker’s factory, where she joined the union. This is where she began her activist career: fighting for improved working conditions. She believed that all women deserved the right to vote, especially those who worked and paid taxes. 

As a suffragette, Foley worked for the Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association (MWSA) and the Margaret Brent Suffrage Guild. Passionate about women’s rights and spreading this message in any way she could, she notably heckled politicians, distributed pamphlets from a hot air balloon, and spoke with people in mines, public meeting houses, and on street corners. 

Foley traveled to London, England to further learn from other suffragettes, particularly Emmeline Pankhurst. She was arrested alongside other suffragettes for protesting, and the news of this spread to the United States. Her parents were horrified, however, Foley was invigorated by this experience and kept in touch with Pankhurst via letters for years following, despite Foley’s return to America. Through remarks from Foley and the subsequent contents of the letters exchanged, it is relatively clear that Foley had a romantic crush on Pankhurst. 

At the time, queer relationships were not accepted in mainstream suffragette circles, and they were certainly not accepted in wider American society. Those who opposed the suffragettes often called them untraditional, mannish, and unladylike and used these notions to push against the right for women to vote. Within the movement, organizations such as the National American Women’s Suffrage Association (NAWSA), distanced themselves from suffragettes like Foley who defied norms, were working-class, and did not behave in ways that were deemed ladylike.  

Foley never formally married, however, she lived with fellow suffragette Helen Elizabeth Goodnow from the mid-1920s until her death in 1957. The two lived in what is referred to as  ‘Boston marriage,’ a domestic relationship between two women who lived together and did not choose to marry a man. These most commonly occurred in Boston, hence the name, where there was a dense population of college-educated women who had the financial ability not to enter a heterosexual marriage. While not all of these were necessarily romantic in nature, based on evidence from their lives, Foley and Goodnow’s was. 

The two met while working for MWSA, with Goodnow volunteering to be Foley’s secretary in 1916. They toured the country together during this time, promoting suffrage ideals to people in the southern United States. Years later, Goodnow wrote to her grandmother “I think of the hundreds of people who would give anything to be with her for a week. We read together, walked together, got up, and went to bed when we felt like it. And she really loves me.” Despite retaliating from cultural and social norms of the time, Foley and Goodnow chose a life in which they weren’t accepted by most. They served as an image for future queer relationships to look upon and further the fight for acceptance.

When learning about the suffragette movement, it is imperative to not only explore the most commonly shared narratives and names but to examine closely who and what are being purposefully excluded from these accounts. The stories of suffragettes who were not deemed model women and defied norms — whether they dressed in “men’s clothes,” were working women, chose to remain unmarried, or were simply not wealthy white women — have been purposefully hidden, and it is time to uncover and share them.

References

[1] Boston National Historical Park. “Margaret Foley.” National Park Service, Updated January 17, 2023, https://www.nps.gov/people/margaret-foley.htm.  

[2] Boyles, Anna. “Boston Marriages and the Queer History of Women’s Suffrage.” City of  Boston, Updated November 15, 2022, https://www.boston.gov/news/boston-marriages-and-queer-history-womens-suffrage. 

[3] Connolly, Jenna. “Boston Irish-Americans to Remember: Suffragist Margaret Foley.” Very  Local, April 15, 2022. https://www.verylocal.com/boston-suffragist-margaret-foley/21627/. 

[4] Margaret Foley Papers, 1847-1968. Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. https://id.lib.harvard.edu/ead/sch00004/catalog  Accessed June 15, 2023.

[5] Rouse, Wendy. Public Faces, Secret Lives: A Queer History of the Women's Suffrage Movement. New York University Press, 2022. 

Emma Quirk is a rising sophomore at Mount Holyoke College and is double majoring in English and Critical Social Thought. On campus, Emma is a staff writer and photos editor for Mount Holyoke News and works as a student fellow in the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Our future: Madame Vice President Kamala D. Harris

Harris is sworn in as vice president as her husband holds the Bible. Harris was sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. She wore the color purple as a nod to Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American woman to run for president. Andrew Harnik/Pool/AP.

BY: JACQUELINE QIU, WINTER 2021 COLLABORATOR AT POWER IN PLACE

On January 20, 2021, Kamala Devi Harris became the first female vice president in the history of the United States. She is the highest ranking female elected official in our nation’s history, after a successful career as the Attorney General of the state of California (2011-2017) and the junior senator for California before her current tenure as Vice President of the United States. Not only has Vice President Harris shattered various glass ceilings that have limited the socio-political potential of women, she exemplifies the achievement of the conjoint ends of gender and racial equality. Growing up with both African American and Asian American ancestry, as her mother is from India and her father hails from British Jamaica, she is the first African American and (South) Asian American vice president. Vice President Harris inspires the future of women in politics, such as women like me, as well as younger generations of females that wish to see a future where they may hold public office, without any obstacles that block their path. 

““While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last.” -Vice Presidential Acceptance Speech, November 7, 2020, ”

With her dual cultural heritages, our current vice president epitomizes diversity, representation, intersectionality, and equity. She is a woman of color who has successfully persevered through societal institutions, which may not be as evident as the clear disenfranchisement of women that the suffragists combatted, that have functioned to place unequal expectations on her role in society. Harris has assumed this landmark position as vice president, despite her intersectional identity as both a woman and person of color, which has yielded various types of exclusion and oppression in society.  Her identity as a woman of color has functioned in a manner that challenges societal institutions, such as the white, patriarchal nature of public office in the United States. Instead of permitting the intersectionality of her racial and gender identity to limit her efforts towards serving the American people and upholding democracy, she has successfully embraced her conjoint identity to empower herself and all of the identities that she represents. Her presence, her identity, and her words have powerful effects that are needed to assert the future for women in politics, in addition to racial equity. 

Vice President Kamala Harris walks with her family to the White House. Maddie McGarvey for CNN.

It is important to recognize the historic day of January 20, 2020 since the trajectory of women in politics, in terms of their public representation, has changed for the better. Now, we hope that women in politics may become the norm, instead of the outlier. Little girls, with skin in every color, can see a role model in Harris; they can grow up knowing their identity matters, from their gender to their race, without hesitation. They now live in a reality where it is possible to grow up and become like Vice President Harris. Additionally, women, especially women of color, are assured that shattering patriarchal institutions in politics is possible, and not just a hopeful aspiration. For example, for me, as a woman of color, I now see that all facets of my identity can be represented in the highest public offices of the land. ice president. Vice President Kamala Harris is not only a role model for females, of all ages, of all backgrounds, but a reflection of what America can be. While our country must heal from the present inequalities that plague us in the present day, it is imperative that we celebrate the presence of Kamala Harris in the office of Vice President of the United States. The historic day Harris’ inauguration, on the 20th of January in 2021, is just the beginning for women in politics.

Jacqueline Qiu is a junior at Middlebury College, double majoring in French and Political Science. She is passionate about humanitarianism, women in politics, mental health awareness and advocacy, and French language and literature. On campus, she is the Co-President of the French club and Active Minds Middlebury

The suffragettes of 1880-1890: simultaneously pursuing racial justice alongside the landmark right to vote

First Issue of The Crisis: A Record of the Darker Races, November 1910. New York: NAACP, 1910.

BY: JACQUELINE QIU, 2021 WINTER COLLABORATOR AT POWER IN PLACE

The years between 1880 and 1890 yielded immense progress for achieving the reality of female enfranchisement within a historically male-dominated society. Suffragettes, especially those of color, were able to challenge patriarchal institutions, such as the denial of women’s suffrage, through influential actions based on philosophies of gender, racial, and social justice. The conjoint nature of this activism not only cultivated hope in the suffrage movement for women of color, but also in the greater movement to assert rights that are denied on the basis of one's identity. These rights were traditionally marginalized in a socioeconomic and political context and held as the standard in both cultural, social, and legal norms. Advocating for suffrage, for these women of color, is synonymous with an awareness for intersectionality of identity. The enfranchisement of women would not be truly successful if it did not account for deconstructing structural inequalities that are based in an interconnected identity of race, gender, and other forms of identity. These brave suffragette women of color tackled systemic manners of oppression in American society, such as the denial of female enfranchisement and racism, by using their unique identities to their advantage.

Frances Ellen Watkins Harper.

Frances Ellen Watkins Harper (1825-1911), as a prolific black poet, writer, and  journalist that advocated for the suffrage, and subsequent social equality, of black women. Her commitment to this conjoint gender and racial justice first began with helping slaves escape through the Underground Railroad and publishing anti-slavery journalistic works. Later, during the American Reconstruction Era, she was a prominent activist for civil rights, women’s suffrage, and equitable education opportunities for black citizens. Her advocacy was mainly done through her high status in the literary and journalism world; she is known as the “mother of African American journalism,” and one of the first black writers to popularize Africa American protest poetry. For example, her short story, The Two Offers, was the first short story published by an African American writer. Her ideals of equality and representation in literature extended into her contributions in society; Harper was a co-founder and Vice President of the National Association of Colored Women and member of the National American Woman Suffrage Association. Additionally, she was the superintendent of the Colored Section of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania Women’s Christian Temperance Union. Harper, as an extremely accomplished writer and activist, leaves an indelible mark on the history of suffragettes of color. 

Harriet Purvis, Jr. , circa 1874.

Harriet (Hattie) Purvis, Jr. (1839-1904) was also an active supporter of women’s suffrage in the face of societal challenges. While her views on female enfranchisement are relatively unknown, she represented the second generation of black women suffragettes. She was active in the Pennsylvania Woman Suffrage Association and a member of its executive committee in 1884. Furthemore, between 1883-1900, she was also a notable delegate for the National American Woman Suffrage Association due to her work in the state of Pennsylvania. She was also involved, as a superintendent of work among Colored People for the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. Purvis, Jr. is an important figure who fought for women’s suffrage, especially for black women, that has been hidden in the corners of history. Her contributions, especially those in Pennsylvania, are intrinsically in need of recognition.

Getrude Bustill Mossell.

Getrude Bustill Mosell (1855-1948) was an active journalist that used her platform to highlight the severity of achieving women’s suffrage, especially for women of color. As a journalist, she wrote about these issues of gender and racial justice in The New York Freedom, one of T. Thomas Fortune’s newspapers. Her first publication, titled “Women’s Suffrage,” in 1865 encouraged women to read about the history of the suffrage movement and previous articles of women’s rights. Encouraging a black, female audience, Mosell used the press as an effective way to appeal and inspire black women to contribute to the suffragist movement. In addition, due to her high journalistic status, she was able to relate to middle class views of housewives who were feminists and encourage them to advocate for female enfranchisement. Mosell, through the black press, sought to appeal to demographics that were relational to her intersectional identity of a black female journalist, in order to garner more support for the suffragist movement. 

Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin, 1902.

Jospehine St. Pierre Ruffin (1842-1924) was a major figure in the advancement of women’s enfranchisement in the state of Massachusetts. Also beginning as a journalist, she joined in the work of the Massachusetts Suffrage Association in 1875 and later became affiliated with the American Woman Suffrage Association. In fact, in 1895, she convened the first conference of the National Federation of Afro-American Women, which was probably the first national organization of black women, in Boston. Ruffin was an unequivocal leader in the black women’s club movement, which united black women under the cause of female enfranchisement. She wrote in her black woman’s newspaper, The Women’s Era, utilizing her previous journalistic experience for the progress of women’s rights. In Massachusetts, she urged white women to join with black women to advance the suffragist cause. However, her efforts to unite black and white women’s clubs (and thus combat racial inequalities) were not extremely successful; she experienced discrimination at the Convetion of General Federation of Women’s Clubs in 1900. Nevertheless, Ruffin persisted in her cause of combatting societal institutions such as female disenfranchisement, and realizing the deconstruction of gender and racial injustices.

Josephine Bruce.

Josephine Bruce (1853-1923), was a prominent activist for women’s rights and suffragists in the Washington, D.C. area. With her husband, Representative Blanche K. Bruce, the first U.S. Senator from Mississippi during the Reconstruction Era, Bruce’s influence in the D.C. area was extremely noticeable and impactful. She was a charter member of the Colored Women’s League of D.C. and helped organize the National Organization of Afro-American Women in 1894. Moreover, she headed over the national executive committee of the National Association of Colored Women and was the editor of its publication, Notes. Drawing on journalism as an effective medium of advocating for the necessity of obtaining the right to vote for women (especially of color), Bruce often published articles in Crisis Magazine and In the Voice of the Negro. She also served as the editor of the magazine for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, after becoming involved in the organization. Concerned by the evident inequality for women of color in American society, Bruce took action, writing for the necessity of women’s rights and suffrage, and reached a far audience due to her high status in our nation’s capital.

Anna J. Cooper, Oberlin College.

Anna J. Cooper (1858-1964), as part of a rich tradition of black writers and intellectuals in the Washington, D.C. area, was a fervent advocate for black feminism and self determination within the women’s suffrage movement. As teacher and principal at the famous M. Street High School in Washington D.C., she became an esteemed clubwoman and social activist who was greatly admired for her belief that the status of black women was central to the progress of the nation. With her influence in the nation’s capital, she also served as a mentor for other suffrage activists, such as Angelina Grimke and Nannie Helen Burroughs. Furthermore, her book, A Voice in the South in 1882, promotes the notion that black women could empower themselves, and have innate capacities for self determination, through education and social uplift. Cooper, with her high status as a writer, used her platform to highlight the necessity of guaranteeing a future in American society where black women were enfranchised and inherently valued.

Susette La Flasche Tibbles (“Bright Eyes”) Courtesy of Nebraska State Historical Society.

Susette La Flesche Tibbles (1854-1903), or “Bright Eyes,” was a prominent Native American activist and suffragist that advocated for Native American rights in the face of barriers created by U.S. federal policy. She is best known for embarking on a series of nationwide and international speaking tours, which were widely successful, to document the adversity faced by Native Americans in American society. Her wish to promote equality for Native Americans in society also extended to the socio-political realm, as she became a staunch advocate for women’s suffrage, especially that of Native American women. Tibbles also served as an expert witness and interpreter in court for Native Americans who wished to sue the government due to various types of grievances. In fact, she served as an interpreter for Standing Bear, who sued the federal government in 1879 and acquired a ruling that allowed Native Americans to choose where they want to live. Tibble’s testimonies about the lack of Native American rights in front of Congress eventually led to the landmark 1887 Dawes Act. “Bright Eyes” was a notable advocate for an intersectional equality of gender, in relation to female enfranchisement, and socio-political Native American rights. 

Adella Hunt Logan.

Adella Hunt Logan (1863-1915), as a professor at Tuskegee Institute, which was headed by Booker T. Washington, made philosophical contributions to rationalizing why black women deserve the right to vote. As a charter member of the Tuskegee Women’s Club and lecturer for conferences at the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, she combined white suffrage rationale with black women’s suffrage to amplify its effects and overall message. This philosophy gained traction in the black women’s suffrage movement, especially as Logan published these ideas in prominent magazines such as Colored American and Crisis. Attacking anti-suffrage movements, she augmented her justification for female enfranchisement with an unequivocally potent rationale; the right to vote for black women would be a undeniable form of protection against rape and sexual abuse for them. Gaining national attention, her arguments for the enfranchisement of black women included core tenets form Mary Ann Shadd Cady, Frances E.W. Harper, and Sojourner Truth. Additionally, she staged lantern slide nights and organized suffrage parades for women’s club members at the beginning of President William McKinely’s re-election parade. Logan used her unique intellectual basis of activism to the advantage of advancing the cause of suffrage, especially for African American women. 

The movement of women’s suffrage was not solely for the purpose of obtaining the right to vote; it was a greater mission for achieving equality and recognition for their valuable character and contributions as women of color in a society that had acted often against their best interests. From the decade of 1880-1890, suffragette women persisted in their efforts to achieve this comprehensive equality for the present and future generations. 

References:

1. Rothberg, Emma.“Susette La Flesche Tibbles (“Bright Eyes”).” National Women’s History Museum. 2020. https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/susette-la-flesche-tibbles-bright-eyes 

2. Mayo, Edith. “African American Women Leaders in the Suffrage Movement.” Suffragist Memorial. 2020. https://suffragistmemorial.org/african-american-women-leaders-in-the-suffrage-movement/

Jacqueline Qiu is a junior at Middlebury College, double majoring in French and Political Science. She is passionate about humanitarianism, women in politics, mental health awareness and advocacy, and French language and literature. On campus, she is the Co-President of the French club and Active Minds Middlebury.

Why speak out in the face of insurmountable challenges?

“ “The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.”
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ”

BY: JACQUELINE QIU, WINTER 2021 COLLABORATOR AT POWER AND PLACE

Speaking out against the injustices of the world is an example of high moral integrity in a human being. For these women who advocated for the suffragette cause, in the 19th & 20th centuries, their status, credibility, and words would be questioned in their contemporary society. However, the potential of being ostracized by societal institutions did not stop them from speaking our from structural inequities. These women did not let their voices be silenced in the welfare of female generations in the past, present, and future.

““As much as white women need the ballot, colored women need it more.”
(Closing remarks at the 1873 Convention of the American Woman Suffrage Association in New York) ”

Frances Ellen Watkins Harper

- Frances Ellen Watkins Harper (1825-1911), an African American writer, poet, and suffragette who popularized gender and racial equality through her poetry, short stories, and widely circulated writings.

““Peaceful revolutions are slow but sure. It takes time to leaven a great unwieldy mass like this nation with the leavening ideas of justice and liberty, but evolution is all the more certain in its results because it is so slow.” ”

Susette La Flesche Tibbles (“Bright Eyes”) circa 1880s. Courtesy of the Nebraska State Historical Society.

- Susette La Flesche Tibbles (“Bright Eyes”) (1854-1903), a Native American activist and suffragette who represented Native American rights against U.S. Federal Policy and viewed women’s suffrage as a conjoint end.

““When the ballot is put into the hands of the American woman, the world is going to get a correct estimate of the Negro woman. It will find her a tower of strength of which poets have never sung, orators have never spoken, and scholars have never written.””

Nannie Helen Burroughs.

- Nannie Helen Burroughs (1879-1961), an African American suffragette who established the Women’s Convention, as a church branch of the National Baptists Convention, that was the largest body of African American women in the U.S. and opened the National Training School of Women and Girls for poor, working class African American women.

““Educate a woman and you educate a family.””

Jovita Idár (middle) in the print shop of El Progreso, 1914.

- Jovita Idár (1885-1946), a Latina journalist, suffragist, and activist who advocated for the plight of Mexican Americans in Texas as well as the socio-political equality of Mexican American women in obtaining the right to vote.

““We are justified in believing that the success of this movement for equality of the sexes means more progress toward equality of the races.””

Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin

- Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin (1842-1924) a prominent African American journalist and suffragette who formed the Massachusetts Suffrage Association in 1875 and urged black women to participate in politics through her writings in her own newsletter, The Women’s Era.

“If white American women, with all their natural and acquired advantages, need the ballot, that right protective of all other rights; if Anglo Saxons have been helped by it … how much more do Black Americans, male and female, need the strong defense of a vote to help secure them their right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?” ”

Adella Hunt Logan, 1902.

- Adella Hunt Logan (1863-1915), a professor at Tuskegee Institute, which was headed by Booker T. Washington, and major contributor to the philosophy of the black women’s suffrage movement by combining white suffrage rationale with the necessity of obtaining the right to vote for black women.

References: 

1. Wicker, Jewel. “16 Best Quotes About Women of Color Deserving the Right to Vote.” Teen Vogue. 2020. https://www.teenvogue.com/story/best-quotes-women-right-to-vote 

2. Gomez, Skylar. “12 African American Suffragists who shouldn’t be overlooked.” Literary Ladies Guide. 2019. https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/other-rad-voices/12-african-american-suffragists/  

Jacqueline Qiu is a junior at Middlebury College, double majoring in French and Political Science. She is passionate about humanitarianism, women in politics, mental health awareness and advocacy, and French language and literature. On campus, she is the Co-President of the French club and Active Minds Middlebury.

Marla Farbacher

** Marla is not currently an elected official. She is running for political office. Marla’s current position is Chief Counsel for the Grand Jury Division of Franklin County, OH. **

INTERVIEWED BY HALEY GLOVER

Photographed by Victoria Vongsaphay

MARLA FARBACHER, CANDIDATE FOR MADISON COUNTY (OH) PROSECUTOR

Place of Special Meaning: My children both attended West Jefferson Schools… We have a lot of community involvement and ties to the high school. More specifically, this will be my tenth season as the volunteer West Jefferson High School mock trial legal advisor…. Mock trial is how I’ve most consistently served my community. West Jefferson is a very athletic-minded community, like many rural communities, where football is the “end all be all.” We felt that it was important to have an option for students who weren’t interested in sports and to provide an opportunity to expand their experience while they’re still in high school.

“I think we need to relabel politics and have things be more about getting to the right place and not having it be so divisive ”

How She Defines Herself: I would define myself as a prosecutor. I think it’s unfortunate that in Ohio the prosecuting attorney position for county office, as well as for city prosecutors, is a political position and an elected position… A prosecutor’s job is to seek justice and party politics shouldn’t have anything to do with that. Beyond being a prosecutor, I would define myself as a community member, mother, wife, friend, and neighbor, but prosecuting attorney is probably my most exact title.

“It is rewarding to serve your community in a way that fits your skill set.”

Strength of Underestimation: Last year’s mock trial team was an all girls’ team. One nice thing about having a team of all young women… I felt they were underestimated because they were women. We would go to a competition and some older male judge would say “Oh, we have an all girls’ team!” Okay. But, as a result of that, I found that people really underestimated them…I think young women are underestimated. I had that same experience when I was a young attorney as well… The girls would go in knowing they were being underestimated and then do so incredibly well…I think because people underestimate [women], it gives you a secret weapon.