Along with many other women this past week, I felt a little disillusioned when Senator Elizabeth Warren dropped out of the 2020 Presidential race. Now, we must wait another four years to have a chance at finally calling someone Madam President.
Especially as International Women’s Day just passed, I found myself yearning for a hope that younger generations of women can still see themselves as leaders with the power to change the world. Even though the 2020 race for the Democratic nominee has come down to two old white men (at least one of them is Jewish, that’s new!), we still had a record-breaking year for women in politics. I want to take a moment to recognize some of these women and their grand accomplishments aside from a short-lived shot at the White House.
Elizabeth Warren
Senator Elizabeth Warren knows how to fight. In addition to her many policies and plans, one of the most important aspects of Senator Warren’s campaign was her pinky promises she shared with young girls to promise that “that they’ll remember that running for president is what girls do.”
Before her political campaign for the presidency and her time in Congress, Senator Warren was Professor Warren when this journey began. Warren focused her time on economic policy and analyzing bankruptcy both as a law professor and as Senator.
Warren bravely pursued a career in the male-dominated field of academia. While Warren may not have been an outspoken feminist when she first developed her political beliefs, she fought for women by stepping into the man’s world and saying, “I can do this, too”. In 2012, Warren became the first-ever woman elected to the U.S. Senate from Massachusettes. During her time in office, Senator Warren greatly assisted in pushing for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. This Bureau has, “successfully protected millions of consumers from financial tricks and traps often hidden in mortgages, credit cards, and other financial products”.
One of Warren’s most memorable moments, before she stepped into the spotlight to run for president, was when Senator Mitch McConnell attempted to silence Senator Warren using a little known Senate rule during her speech criticizing attorney general nominee Senator Jeff Sessions. Following this disruption, Senator McConnell stated three words that would backfire like he never expected: “Nevertheless, she persisted”. While Senator Warren had to step back from the presidential race, she still reminded us that, nevertheless, we must persist, too.
Kamala Harris
Senator Kamala Harris knows how to speak her mind and take a stand. While she left the race quite early, her presence helped provoke vital conversations. Before running for president, a few years after the housing crisis of 2008, Kamala Harris won a mortgage case as California Attorney General that helped more than 84,000 Californian families gain recompensation. With this historic settlement, “California homeowners were guaranteed $12 billion in debt reduction, while most other states received only promises.”
Harris has also been an advocate for LBGTQ rights. For example, during her time as the district attorney of San Francisco, Harris started a Hate Crimes Unit in order to help LGBTQ teens receive justice after facing hate crimes in school.
Kirsten Gillibrand
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand continues to speak out against injustices against women and fight for their voices to be heard. In 2013, Senator Gillibrand served as the chair of the Armed Services subcommittee on personnel. During her time in this role, “she held the first Senate hearing on the issue of sexual assault in the military in almost a decade, and has built a bipartisan coalition of Senators in support of her bill, the Military Justice Improvement Act.” Military sexual assault cases were being lost in the bureaucracy of the chain of command, and this bill helped to create a pathway for justice. Senator Gillibrand’s record shows that she wants clarity in politics and is willing to go against the majority to achieve it.
Amy Klobuchar
Senator Klobuchar’s political career is rooted in her identity not only as a woman but also as a mom. When she gave birth to her daughter who required critical medical attention, Klobuchar was denied continuing care in the hospital since “her 24-hour window of admission had expired”. Senator Klobuchar took her frustration from this experience and ran with it – all the way to the White House. After lobbying her state legislature to extend the 24-hour rule to 48 hours for new mothers and newborns, the bill reached President Bill Clinton, who signed it into federal law.
Recently, Senator Klobuchar served as a fair-minded member of the Senate Judiciary Committee where she cornered Brett Kavanaugh with questions about his alcohol usage. Although Kavanaugh still secured the nomination, Senator Klobuchar demonstrated her strength as a woman willing to stand her ground.
While I may not agree with all the policies and decisions of all of these women, they still inspire me to do more and to do better. As a woman who hopes to influence the world someday for the better, whether that be through running for office or practicing law for those in need, I am thankful for these trailblazing women. By stepping up and saying, “I am a leader, and I can lead this country,” these women carved a path for future generations to follow. So, during this Women’s History month, I ask you to remember that history is still being written. Now, it is our time to write the story.
