Weekend Reading on Women’s Representation: Women’s World Cup Becomes Battleground for Gender Equality; Ranked-Choice Voting Comes to Boulder, Colo.

PUBLISHED 9/1/2023 by

Weekend Reading on Women’s Representation is a compilation of stories about women’s representation in politics, on boards, in sports and entertainment, in judicial offices and in the private sector in the U.S. and around the world—with a little gardening and goodwill mixed in for refreshment!

A TIME magazine essay by Jennifer Weiss-Wolf highlights the overlap between feminism and democracy.

In 1971, Rep. Bella Abzug proposed that Aug. 26, the anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, be formally recognized as Women’s Equality Day. Abzug, Gloria Steinem, Shirley Chisholm and Fannie Lou Hamer also formed the National Women’s Political Caucus (NWPC). RepresentWomen shares a belief in the imperative of gender equality with the NWPC and the founders of Women’s Equality Day.

Still, women are significantly underrepresented in most states. While women’s political power has grown, systemic barriers persist, hindering progress on feminist goals. The overturning of Roe v. Wade and the struggle for the Equal Rights Amendment demonstrate the ongoing battles for women’s rights.

According to our 2023 Gender Parity Index (GPI), only two states have achieved gender balance in elected office. The U.S. as a whole is about halfway to parity. Our research confirms that jurisdictions with greater percentages of women in office have led to feminist issues becoming a priority.

Winning the Match, Losing the Game: The Women’s World Cup Becomes a Battleground for Gender Equality