Republican Women Are Rising In American Politics — What Does This Mean For Women’s Rights?
July 26, 2010 No Comments
There have been huge gains for women in American politics. They are getting elected at all levels and there are currently 239 women running for Congress (out of 435 positions).
As feminists, we should be happy that so many women are getting into politics. But what do we do if they are against what we consider to be basic women’s rights?
Yes, it is wonderful that women make up about half the house (we are half the population after all!).
But, as Clancy Sigal of the Guardian said, “This upsurge in Republican feminism of a brutal sort exalts mommyhood but ignores issues that most directly affect women.”
The majority of these women are Republican. This right-wing party is notorious for not supporting access to abortion, birth control, or comprehensive sex education in schools.
“And, as I learned from my years in the United Kingdom, watching in horrified admiration as Margaret Thatcher wiped the floor with her male opposition, there’s nothing so powerful as a really angry woman.”
So we have powerful women in American politics and that is a good thing.
But feminism is complex and that includes the pursuit for equality. There are certain rights I think are essential in any modern democracy and these women are mostly against them.
As much as I am happy to have women in politics, I would rather have a male Democrat over a female Republican any day.
Also read:
Abortion Is Murder, According To The New (Faux?) Feminists
