The economy may be sagging, the unemployment rate may be dispiriting, and the presidential candidates may be at each other's throats -- but here's the good news:
Women are in position to decide the fate of the nation.
U.S. News and World Report calls us "the key voting bloc." Political commentator Julie Menin has declared us "the New Majority." And Stephanie Schriock, the president of EMILY's List, laid it all on the line:
"Women are watching," she told the Christian Science Monitor. "They're definitely not sitting this one out quietly."
Granted, this election year has been a pretty noisy one. But why all the sudden attention on women? Because pollsters and pundits have begun to catch on: We vote in bigger numbers and, this year in particular, we've got a few scores to settle.
It began in February, when Rush Limbaugh called women's activist Sandra Fluke a "slut" and a "prostitute" after she testified before a House committee about the importance of insurance plans covering birth control. Even women who didn't agree with Fluke took offense. Then Rep. Todd Akin joined the fray, coining the phrase "legitimate rape," and dumbfounding millions with his bizarre theory that women can actually stop conception from happening.
Is it any wonder that there's a growing concern about an actual "war on women?"
And it's not just hype. Who would have thought that in 2012 we would be discussing whether or not a woman in America should have free access to contraception? "I've never seen a presidential election where women's access to birth control is practically on the ballot," Planned Parenthood's Cecile Richards, told the Washington Post.
But the numbers are on our side. Women are an increasingly powerful coalition. Since 1980, we have been a consistently larger voting bloc than men, and statistics point out that we return more frequently to the polls. In the 2008 presidential race, women outvoted men by 9 million.
Maybe this is because we really fought for the vote, having won the right to it only 92 years ago. Measured against the age of our country, that's practically yesterday. And in that time we have paid hard attention to the issues that matter most to us, always keeping an eye on tomorrow for our daughters. I'd like to believe that women have been the secret weapon behind some of our country's most historic strides, supporting leaders who dared to tackle our greatest challenges -- from civil rights, to environmental protection, to ending gun violence, to raising their voices about the futility of war.
We cannot take this power -- and privilege -- for granted. The word on the street is that many will stay home on Election Day this year. That's why both campaigns are working harder than ever to get out the vote. This may be the one issue on which we all agree.
Optimist that I am, I'm assuming that women will come out in record numbers again on November 6. But it will take an extra commitment on our part to get everyone else out on that day, too. That means your reluctant aunt or uncle; your grouchy neighbor next door, or a homebound senior who needs a lift.
I know I'm leaving myself open to those who might scoff at my flag-waving. But the fact is, a lot of men and women in other countries have fought and died for the right to vote. We've got it. Let's use it.
So whichever way you are voting, to psych you up for Election Day, here's a slide show that looks back at the American woman's noble march to the right to vote. It's worth remembering.
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Demanding The Right
It's hard to believe there was a time in our history when women weren't allowed to vote. But thanks to some courageous women who stood up and fought for the right, today we enjoy the freedom we deserve. It was leading women like Kenyon Hayden Rector, left, Mary Dubrow, center, and Alice Paul, right, who demanded the government pass the 19th Amendment. Here, they stand in protest outside of the 1920 Republican Convention in Chicago with a banner boasting a quote from the famous feminist, Susan B. Anthony.
Picketing In D.C.
Women suffragists across the country rallied together and demanded the federal government grant everyone the right to vote, regardless of sex. Here, members of the Nation Woman's Party, the first to picket for women's rights, hold a protest in front of the White House in 1917.
Votes For Women
Women had first started to demand their rights in 1848, when 68 women and 32 men signed the Declaration of Sentiments. But, it wasn't until after the Civil War that women really started to take to the streets and demand change. Here, women at a booth implore passers-by to vote 'yes' on women's suffrage at a vote to be held on October 19, in New Jersey in 1915.
Taking To The Streets
Women all over the country worked to ratify the 19th Amendment in their states, by marching through the streets and demonstrating for equality. Here, women in New York City walk in the Suffrage Parade of 1912.
The Opposition
Although the Women's Suffrage movement gained a great deal of support from both men and women, there were just as many people opposed to giving women the right to vote. Here, a picture of the headquarters of the National Association Opposed To Woman Suffrage, shows the movement was met with some resistance.
Steamrolling The Opposition
This political cartoon depicting the Women's Suffrage movement shows that it was hard to stop. In the image, four women supporting the right to vote drive a steam roller of "progress" over the rocks of "opposition".
Headquarters
It was the undying efforts of Woman Suffrage Headquarters all across the country that helped steamroll the movement's opposition. Here, the scene outside headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio shows how hard these women worked to convince their communities of the need for equality.
Suffrage Parade In D.C.
On March 3, 1913, the day before President Woodrow Wilson's inaurguation, more than 5,000 marchers led the Suffrage Parade down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington D.C. Despite opposition from the nearly 2,000 people in the crowd -- mostly men who tried to trip, jeer and obstruct the procession from continuing -- the show went on. Here, German actress Hedwig Reicher performs in a pageant in front of the Treasury Building, one of the many stops along the parade route.
Alice Paul
A major player in the movement, Alice Paul not only organized the march on Washington D.C., but she was also one of the women arrested for protesting outside of the White House in 1917. Here, Alice raises her glass to the Women's Suffrage banner.
Passing The 19th Amendment
In 1918, after continued pressure from women's suffrage groups all across the country, President Wilson strongly urged Congress to pass the 19th Amendment. Although the vote was close, coming down to one state, Tennessee, the legislation finally passed in 1920. Here, Alice Paul, at the National Women's Party headquarters, sews stars onto a banner just after the amendment was passed.
National Celebration
Here, women stand and cheer outside of the National Women's Party headquarters as Alice Paul unfurls the banner in celebration of the passing of the 19th Amendment, which finally guaranteed women the right to vote.
Newly Enfranchised Voters
It wasn't long after the amendment passed that women surged to the polls. Here, three unidentified women in San Francisco, California make history by becoming the first of their sex to vote in an election just after the 19th Amendment was passed.
Encouraging Women To Vote
Even as some women rushed to exercise their hard-fought right to vote after the 19th Amendment passed, the Women's Suffrage movement was far from over. Here, one suffragette stands in the rain, and urges women to get out and vote.
Learning How To Vote
Here, surrounded by signs in both English and Yiddish, women in support of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Herbert H. Lehman teach other women how to vote in 1935.
50 Years Later
Fifty years after the passage of the 19th Amendment, women were still fighting for women's equality in America. Here is feminist Betty Freidan, at a march honoring the 50th anniversary of women's suffrage. The sign behind Betty tells you all you need to know about the passion at that rally.
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Women have different priorities than men: the health and wellbeing of our children; education that empowers and inspires; clean water and a healthy relationship with the earth. Compassion for others. Safety, without becoming thugs ourselves.
When these priorities (and the women who hold them) are ignored as weak and frivolous, we end up with an aggressive military-driven agenda and a focus on being rich - as if that was the main purpose of life. It is a profanity - the profaning of the sacredness of life.
Blessed are the peacemakers, said Christ. But we've forgotten that. "Turn the other cheek," he said, but we don't want to seem "weak." "Love thine enemies." "Bless them that curse you. Thou shalt not Kill. Love one another. Love. Love. Love. Love."
We need a woman - no - a Mother - with a can of whoop-ass in the White House, to deal with these 8-year-old boys with their "he started it," arms folded across their chest.
Half this country is made up of women and we need our priorities represented, too.
Obviously you want a change and get back to being employed and a robust economy. You want a change from this destruction of wealth and poor income. CHANGE.
Women are in position to decide the fate of the nation.
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From a HuffPo blog the other day: Romney has erased Obama's gender advantage. Women are evenly divided (47 percent) between the two. Last month Obama had an 18 point lead over Romney among women.
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I am woman, hear me roar!
Actually, I used several V-words. Like VOICE. And VOLUNTEER.
And VOTE.
But I guess HuffPo doesn't allow that other V-word. You know what I'm talking about.
The V. If you have one, you better think about how a bunch of people who DON'T have one (that V-word) want to be able to control what you do with yours.
So if you have one - you know, a V - make your VOICE heard. VOLUNTEER. And most important of all, VOTE.
Then go into that voting booth and stand up for yoruself with your vote. And wipe the ugly smirks off of ALL their faces. Make those bastards SORRY!
Obama/Biden 2012--they're the best friends and strongest allies women have. Don't buy Mitt's sudden "moderate" act. Remmber what HE'S said about women thisyear. Remember who his VP is, and think about how you'd fare in a Romney Ryan world.
I don't want a president who is making policy based on a 2000 year old book. What's next , going to war with a country because of something written in revelations ? I like the idea of a president being religious but I really don't want the Pope making policy decisions .
these bible huggers really aren't that religious, it's all smoke.
IF you are going to continue to blog, and not sound suspiciosly like Marlo "Romney", you are going to have to begin speaking to the 99%, instead of the 1%, and corporate big wigs with whom you probably spend most of your time socializing.
I am a believer in the Mormon religion,
but all of todays bibles are not the true bible.
I don't think anyone alive today has the
knowledge to read the true bible.
Todays bibles are just mans interpretation
of what the original bible says.
So religion should not be used as a means
to get votes. That is blasphemy!
Here are some more thoughts for women.
1. Subservient
2. First female President
3. Freedom of choices
4. Bare foot and pregnant
To me each word represent a party.
1. GOP
2. DEM
3. DEM
4. GOP
If any is wondering, I am a disabled male US Vet.
60% of college graduates are women. There are more unemployed men than women. There are more women in positions of power both politically and in the corporate world than ever. In every concievable way, at the bottom of society it's a virtual all mans club.
Which brings me to two points.
#1) If at the bottom of society it's an all mans club. How can women be oppressed?
#2) With women voting in every single politician and being literaly handed positions of power politically and economically. Where's the utopia we were promised? It's all much worse for everyone. Why? Are men still to blame?