Women Voters Archives - Ms. Magazine

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

Ms. Editors

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.

“My Citizenship Is Not Legal, but Cultural”: The View from an Ineligible Voter

Swathi Kella

“We can no longer define political citizenship simply by the ability of a person to exercise the right to vote and run for office. We must expand our definition of who may take part in this country’s democracy, and in doing so bring a new cohort of long overlooked constituents into the fold of our political processes,” writes Swathi Kella, Harvard ’23.

Trump’s Rhetoric on Suburban Women Shows the Persistence of Gender Stereotypes in U.S. Elections

Erin Cassese

Trump’s latest rhetoric reflects the ultimate gender stereotype: A woman’s place is in the home.

Rhetoric characterizing women primarily as wives and mothers harkens back to the earliest days of this republic. Now as then, such rhetoric fundamentally misrepresents the interests and identities of most women.

Latinas Have the Power To Be a Decisive Force This Election—If They Turn Out

Chabeli Carrazana, The 19th

The Latina electorate has the potential to flip swing states and congressional districts. This may be the year it does.

“I truly do believe that Latinas can be the deciders this election,” says Stephanie Valencia, president and co-founder of Equis, a Latinx research firm.

In the Last Presidential Debate, Trump and Biden Make Their Final Pitch To Women

Errin Haines, The 19th

With less than two weeks to go before Election Day, Thursday’s debate was a more muted, substantive exchange, with a focus on many of the issues disproportionately impacting the majority of the electorate: women.

2020 May Be the Year for LGBTQ Women Candidates and Voters

Democrats Are Overlooking a Key Demographic: LGBTQ Women

Jim Grossfeld

“LGBTQ women are volunteers, donors, activists, and voters. We’re the engine of the progressive movement.”

So why are they still so underrepresented in government?

In the Fight for the Battleground States, Women Voters Play a Critical Role

In the Battleground States, Trump’s Got a Problem: Women

Ethel Klein

The gender gap measures the difference in men and women’s votes for the leading candidate.

Women make up the base of the Democratic party, and the gender gap plays a critical role in Biden’s support—especially in the battleground states.

Before and after the political conventions and into the fall, the gender gap remains stronger than ever.

Latinas Had the Highest Unemployment Rate This Year—and It’s Driving Them to Vote

Chabeli Carrazana, The 19th

In April, one in five Latinas were jobless. In November, unemployment will be on their minds.

A record 32 million Latinx people are eligible to vote this year, making them the largest racial or ethnic minority in a presidential election for the first time.

Equality by Initiative: Ballot Measures to Watch This November

Corinne Ahrens

Whether focused on raising the minimum wage or ending cash bail, mandating paid family and medical leave or limiting access to abortion, state initiatives put vulnerable groups’ futures on the ballot this November. Here are some of the measures we’re watching.

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