HALF THE CONGRESS…should be women

I have a sense that 2018 is going to be a very consequential year.  Let’s jump right into it!

Why are we having such a difficult time achieving gender equality in our society? Are women that threatening? Some men are unwilling to accept feminists, and we simply have to accept that. More importantly, we have to be ready for it because those men might make life even more volatile and dangerous for the women in their lives.

As always, we rely on support from our male allies, in the form of modeling equality with your partners and using loving language around differences of opinion.

Columnist Mary Sanchez has some insight for men on this topic, and we all benefit when we try thinking about this from a fresh perspective.

http://www.heralddemocrat.com/opinion/20171228/men-resist-urge-to-play-injured-party

Check out an exciting piece from yesterday’s New York Times. Women all over the country are recognizing that politics as usual is not serving ordinary Americans, and are jumping into the fray at encouraging rates. Hooray!!

Thanks to Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-WI4) for posting this chart on Facebook! Why should we be spending this much taxpayer money on supposed settlements, which do nothing to actually advance the cause of women everywhere. WE REFUSE TO SETTLE!

Leonard Pitts’ recent column examines the obvious fact that men have not done nearly enough to rid society of sexual harassment and assault. The matter does not affect most men, so it is not really on their radar. They consider themselves “allies,” but really, what have they actually done?

One easy suggestion I have for men like Pitts: vote for women in politics. Until we have equal representation, we will not have equal rights, including the right to live our lives free from sexual exploitation, sexual violence, and the fear of the same. Women in power can actually legislate some necessary changes. Don’t accept the 80/20 divide! Women are ready for 50-50, so do not consider yourself an ally unless you are actively working toward that goal.

http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/leonard-pitts-jr/article181391346.html

Check out Emily Peck’s well-written but totally depressing piece in the Huffington Post. It was at the top of the list, which makes me think that we need to take advantage of the level of outrage out there, and move toward political equity as quickly as possible. Who is ready to demand 50% in Congress? Quotas work.

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/women-leadership-sexual-harassment_us_59f387cae4b03cd20b818ed1?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009

From Congressional Rep Jackie Speier: “Many of us in Congress know what it’s like because Congress has been a breeding ground for a hostile work environment for far too long. ”  Read the article at Time Magazine: http://time.com/5000282/this-congresswoman-wants-women-on-capitol-hill-to-say-metoo/