Women were no doubt key to the victory of President Joe Biden and the election of first woman vice president, but the story of the gender gap in 2020, and in every context in American politics, is complicated.
Women Vote 2020
Ms. will be on the frontlines, covering the most important election of our lifetimes—with a focus on gender and feminism. Our Women Vote 2020 series will run through the election, providing analysis, reporting and opinion pieces from movement leaders, experts and Ms. contributors and editors.
Hindsight Is 2020: Celebrating Feminist Victories
Yes, 2020 was a year few of us would want to repeat, but there were miracles and moments that made us and our world better, and will make 2021 a year that we can welcome with open arms.
Georgians Unite to Make “Good Trouble” in Marches and Votercades Across the State
Black and Brown voters in cities across Georgia are joining community organizers for John Lewis “Good Trouble” Marches and Votercades—festive celebrations of voting rights that will lead voters to the polls for early voting for the U.S. Senate runoffs and Public Service Commission race on Jan 5, 2021.
“Invest in the South”: Protecting Abortion Access For Louisianans in Wake of Amendment 1
Nearly 800,000 Louisianans (38 percent of voters) voted “No” and over 1.2 million Louisianans (62 percent) voted “Yes” on Amendment 1, a change to the state constitution that could open the possibility for the state to criminalize abortion, should Roe v. Wade be overturned. Even after election results came in, many are still not sure what the amendment even meant.
So, what just happened in Louisiana?
80 Million No’s Mean No
The defeat of Donald J. Trump feels like emerging from a misogyny-trauma-hangover. The fact that he was ever elected and, as of this writing, has received over nine million more votes than his first run, is a massive global metaphor for rape culture.
For survivors of abuse and those who care for them, it was traumatic to watch his first ascendance to power, horrific to live through, and dehumanizing to have the prospect of a second term dangled in front of us. From the perspective of a women’s studies professor and life-long-feminist, one who is closer to sexual assault than anyone likes to be, the whole process felt traumatic.
Top Takeaways on Women and the 2020 Elections
The 2020 elections were a historic moment for women in politics—from Kamala Harris’s history-making win, gains for women’s representation, gender gaps delivering a win for the Biden-Harris ticket, and more.
“Madam Vice President”: Kamala Harris Makes History
Harris’s unprecedented rise as the first woman, who is also Black and South Asian, to serve as vice president forces us to recognize a woman from a richly diverse background has been chosen to lead one of the greatest democracies in the world.
America, at least half of it, can celebrate that we have chosen the path of inclusion, diversity and hope—even if we barely managed to do so.
Removing Trump from The White House Will Not Fix What’s Broken in America
This anti-democratic virus is more than a passing phase; it infects the soul of our democracy and reaches well beyond Trump. The president is only a symptom of a larger, endemic problem.
A defeat of Donald Trump at the ballot box will not undo the growing mistrust of the Supreme Court and concerns about its commitment to protecting fundamental civil liberties, including voting rights.
If Trump Tries to Sue His Way to Election Victory, Here’s What Happens
It’s easy enough for the Trump campaign to file a lawsuit claiming improprieties, but a lot harder to provide evidence of wrongdoing or a convincing legal argument. Here’s what you need to know as the election lawsuits start to mount.
How Did the Ballot Measures We Followed Fare? A Post-Election Update
While results in many races are still being tallied, due to high rates of mail-in voting, many races have been called—and here’s how the many state initiatives we followed shook out.