women in politics
Talking female politicians, feminist activists, and all the the ways women around the world are changing the landscape of the Swamp, be it for better or worse.
Should Oprah Run for President?
Donald Trump is probably seething right now. Republican leaders are scrambling this morning. Why? Because last night Oprah Winfrey gave, what many are considering, her first Presidential stump speech. Will the beloved icon run for the nation's highest office? The better question is, should she run for President?
By Edward Anderson8 years ago in The Swamp
Meghan Markle and Royal Britain's Long History of Interracial Unions
From interracial unions to sibling rivalry, Prince Harry is following very closely in the footsteps of those grandparents and great grandparents before him. Britain’s royal family has been fond of controversial unions for many generations now, and Prince Harry’s lovely fiancé has still managed to cause a stir all over the world.
By Larisha Stone8 years ago in The Swamp
I am a Feminist Republican
Since the dawn of Donald Trump's reign, people have been put into boxes based on face values. If you are a woman and want your rights, you must be a Democrat. Right? Right?? Actually, as oppposed to popular opinion, you don't have to be an extremist and follow every single point on the platform of a party. In fact, I don't think there is anyone who isn't a terrorist who stands firm on either side of the spectrum.
By Marisol Luna8 years ago in The Swamp
The Sotomayor-Gingrich Controversy According to Standpoint Theory & Identity Politics
The focus of Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s speech at Berkeley Law School in 2001 is that in order to argue for more women and people of color to be present on the bench, a new definition and description of Latino identity must be created. Sotomayor expresses in her speech that her “Newyorkrican” nationality and her experiences growing up in a rich Latino culture surrounded by her Puerto Rican family mean she identifies as such, but she questions how, in America, the tension between a celebration of ethnic diversity and a need for color- and race-blindness can ground a person’s true cultural identity. In order to reach a conclusion on the issue of identity, Sotomayor makes the claim that, though there has been a “quantum leap” (Sotomayor, 2001) in the number of Latinos and women in legal positions, there is still much to be done to show a complete representation of men and women, but specifically women of color, behind the bench. Sotomayor received backlash from former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who called Sotomayor a “racist” in 2009 for her remarks during the speech that she hoped the experiences of a Latina woman would help her make better judging decisions than a white male who has not had those experiences. The controversy over Sotomayor’s speech about creating a definition of identity for women of color in legal positions and Gingrich’s uninformed comments can be situated within two theories of feminism: Kimberlé Crenshaw’s theory of intersectionality and Nancy Hartsock’s feminist standpoint theory.
By Olivia Cyr8 years ago in The Swamp
Keep Criticizing Hillary Clinton
There has never been a politician like Hillary Clinton. Since 1992, she has been First Lady of the United States, Senator from New York, Secretary of State, and the first female major-party Presidential Nominee. Whether you like her or not, denying that she is one of the most well-versed politicians of all-time is an indefensible claim.
By Hunter Farman8 years ago in The Swamp
Feminism Is NOT Cancer
In today's political realm, we are faced with mudslinging in all different directions. It sometimes seems impossible to hold an intelligent, open-minded conversation about anything in American politics or international affairs between two people of differing ideologies.
By Alice Sloane8 years ago in The Swamp
Brief History of the Young Lords Organization
In general, The Young Lords was a nationalist group for Puerto Ricans who lived in — and migrated to — America. The group began as a gang in Lincoln Park Neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. By Sept 1969, the organization evolved into a human rights group led by Jose Cha Cha Jermenez with one of their main causes being the independence of Puerto Rico. The catalyst for the organization’s upgrade from “gang” into “human rights group” was the displacement of Puerto Rican immigrants — through Mayor Richard J. Daley’s political policies — which evicted entire Latino communities for the sake of lakefront and downtown properties.
By GAHMEIH THE VAGAHBOND8 years ago in The Swamp
Letter to Megyn Kelly
Right now I'm missing Melissa Harris Perry. On her show she would read a letter she wrote, usually to someone who would not want to hear what she had to say. So in that spirit, I wrote a letter. Since I don't know where to send it, I'm just going to float it out into cyberspace and let it go where it may. Hopefully, it will reach the intended destination.
By F.D. Brake8 years ago in The Swamp
The Handmaid's Tale Asks Some Huge Questions About Society
The Handmaid's Tale has been airing on Channel 4 in the UK for the past few months and its first season comes to its conclusion on Sunday night as the world waits to find out if Offred has become pregnant.
By Phillipa Hopwood8 years ago in The Swamp
Dear Theresa: What A Difference A Year Makes
Prime Minister May, Well now. It’s been one thing after another, eh? You started with such high hopes and great expectations a year ago. After David Cameron’s uncommonly swift exit from 10 Downing Street a year ago, you took charge of the government making history from day one, as the second woman in history to serve as prime minister and leader of the Conservative (or Tory) Party—no less than Margaret Thatcher was the first. You, therefore, stepped into huge shoes to be filled.
By Michael Eric Ross9 years ago in The Swamp
Dear Theresa... The 7 Demands of the UK People
Your awkward Montgomery Burns-like hunch suggests a lifetime of sadness which has left you looking down into the abyss of dark ethical choices. Your voting record in the UK parliament contradicts the person that you claim to be. If we travel back fifteen years then you’re voting against human equality, yet now you claim to be a reliable bastion of ethical and moral conviction. Where was that conviction the day after Grenfell? Mothers burnt to death with their children in arms and your moral authority falls away when you cannot look the survivors in the eye, or even show them support. Instead, whilst you are a leader, the community had to help support each other in a beautiful display of anarchic love. Where was their leader? She was sneaking out the backdoor in an effort to avoid the existence of these poor people once again.
By Johnny Vedmore9 years ago in The Swamp
