“Mostly they think feminism is a bunch of angry women who want to be like men. They do not even think about feminism as being about rights – about women gaining equal rights” (Feminism is for Everybody by bell hooks)
Election Day is done, and we can now re-welcome Barack Obama as our President again for the next 4 years. Political bias aside, this election has been historic in other ways that not everyone may know about. Women have broken the record in all of history recently, showing that the 113th Congress will include over 20 female members. Two other things to note is that Tammy Baldwin is the first openly gay Senator and Mazie Hirono is the first Asian-American women to be elected into the Senate. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/07/women-in-politics-break-records-2012-election_n_2088954.html)
This is truly a great feat, and looking back at how critical and cruel that media has been to women in power (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-IrhRSwF9U , but particularly look at 4:18-4:25) it is empowering to know that slowly, but surely, the United States of American is progressing towards a more inclusive and diverse nation. With the inclusion of more women into leadership roles, and people of different minority groups, this new leadership can hopefully change the perception media has taken on oppressed groups (such as women, the LGBTQ community, and others).
What really gets to me is the fact that just a few years ago, women like Hillary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, Nancy Pelosi, and Sarah Palin were cruelly objectified as women instead of as leaders. Oppressed groups face many challenges, to accept and allow people of these minorities to come into leadership positions in the US is a step forward. Though the problem is yet to be resolved, which would take a complete shift in the mindset of society in my opinion, it is heartwarming to see change happen in the United States. Be it Clinton the Democrat, or Rice the Republican, the empowerment and acceptance of women into leadership roles in the 2012 elections will be something I will remember for a long time. So take that sexist jerks in the media. Change is coming, and in such an amazing way.
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