ProgressWomen

Just admit it, this is pretty cool.

Emily Nemen has depicted the gender imbalance of women serving in the U.S. Senate by paintings pictures of  women  Senators and how the Senate actually looks. Isn’t that a neat way to show the gender gap?

Courtesy to Jezebel

(I will admit, I follow Emily on Tumblr and completely started squealing when I saw all of these pictures. How awesome is she?)

Read more on Jezebel: http://jezebel.com/artist-emily-nemens-depiction-of-the-u-s-senates-gende-506675261

Follow Emily on Tumblr: http://womenofthe112th.tumblr.com/

Courtesy to Google Images

New favorite feminist documentary, anyone? This 3 minute excerpt from the documentary Tidal Wave Girls, that shows young women and men discussing the women who inspire them and the future of feminism, focusing on the new world we’re all creating for ourselves.

One clip has kids (and young teenagers) discuss the women they admire. The excerpt mainly has all the kids discussing their appreciation for their mothers and how their mothers balance work and home life.

Not only that, but the documentary asks a young woman, who looks to be remotely 14 or 15, what she wants to be when she’s older. What does she respond with? Science.

Yes, you read that right. SCIENCE.

Plus, the documentary hits the viewers with interesting statistics, such as women are scoring higher on IQ tests and 39 out of the 50 states, women in their 20′s are earning more than men their age.

How does it feel to be amazing, ladies?

Watch more here: http://jezebel.com/your-evening-inspiration-kids-talk-about-the-women-the-503896578

Courtesy to Google Images

The race was anticipated by many nationwide and was watched by millions. Former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford and Elizabeth Colbert-Busch duked it out in South Carolina’s 1^st Congressional District race and as people thought, Colbert-Busch would win.

Wrong.

 On May 7, 2013 Sanford won the Congressional race and shocked  America. Although the 1^st district is red and very conservative, many were surprised that Sanford won.

Although Colbert-Busch lost the race, that does not mean there is nothing to learn from the race, and specifically Colbert-Busch. There are few things we should learn and remember about her:

 1. She just ran.

By just looking at Colbert-Busch, you can tell she is independent, strong-willed and a free thinker. Those traits brought her far and made her the Democratic nominee for the race. And honestly, you could tell nothing was holding her back. She just ran. She wanted to make a difference for South Carolinian’s and the 1^st district. No need to remind her of how awesome she is, she already is aware.

 2. She kept going.

This was a vigorous race and quite tiring, at that. No matter what popped up, she kept on going. Nothing could stop her. From campaign stop to campaign stop, she kept talking to voters about herself and what she would do to help the district. It’s difficult to keep going, and she did beyond the work that is probably required. Go Elizabeth!

3. “My name is Elizabeth Colbert Busch, and nobody tells me what to do except the people of the first district.”

She is a hell of a debater. FINALLY, someone put Sanford in his place. Sanford kept name dropping Nancy Pelosi in the race and compared Colbert-Busch to Pelosi often. Even once at a campaign stop, he brought a Nancy Pelosi cardboard cut-out. Obviously someone was confused about who they were running against. Colbert-Busch must have noticed his numerous name drops of Pelosi and was tired of hearing him mentioning Pelosi’s name, so she addressed the issue at a debate. That is right, Colbert-Busch has got a hold of this.

 4. The campaign used social media to their advantage.

From Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, the campaign knew how to work social media and used it to get out the word about the campaign. They posted pictures and videos, information about campaign stops and even responded to fans. Yes, they follow me on my personal Twitter. And yes, I squealed when I saw they followed me. But, in all seriousness, the campaign was on top of the game with their knowledge of networking. Very impressive, Team Colbert-Busch.

 5. She is an average American who ran for Congress.

SHOCKING. No, really, I am being serious. Often people who run for Congress have held previous offices and have name recognition. Did she? Mmm, nope. Well, except for her brother being Stephen Colbert, she was not a name known many up until now. It is great to have a variety of people running for office and for different perspectives to be heard.  Don’t worry, Colbert-Busch knew she would rock the “I’m average and I know it” vote.

Elizabeth Colbert-Bush lost the Congressional race for South Carolina’s 1^st District, but the race will definitely be remembered. She shook up South Carolina politics and ran because all she wanted was to change the district, which is pretty rare nowadays. Who knows, maybe we will see her face appear in politics again. Let’s keep our fingers crossed because she was a phenomenal candidate and this was an exciting race. She was not afraid to tell it how it is, be bold in her actions and ran to be a voice for the people of South Carolina.

I really do wish more people were Elizabeth Colbert-Busch.

Courtesy to Google Images

 I remember staring at the television in my living room. My parents would turn on the news and I would be fascinated with the world. I would watch President George W. Bush address the country and answer questions from the press. I would be impressed at how much work people who lead the country did and how they did it. After seeing how much one could change the world, I was determined to make a difference in this country and run for President someday. I was 4 years old.

Today, I’m 15 and a freshman in high school. I earn good grades and I’m diligent about my work. I’m in band and I play the French Horn. I participate in my school’s speech team and I do extemporaneous speaking. I’m President of my school’s GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance). I run a website with my lovely co-director, State Rep. Stacey Newman and write about progressive values, ideals and feminism. And today, I’m an aspiring Congresswoman.

I have made it so far from that tiny 4 year old with big dreams to become President someday. From memorizing all of the United States Presidents (in order, may I add) and being a history buff, from figuring out which political party I am and changing my stances on many different issues and to learning how politics truly works, I’ve learned many valuable lessons along this 11 year journey. I still have so much more to learn. The great thing about it is that I already have a head start.

There are a variety of different organizations across the country trying to reach out to women, especially young women, encouraging us to run for office. From national organizations like EMILY’s List and Emerge America and to organizations that are formed state-by-state, like Annie’s List, Sally’s List, Ignite CA and the newly formed Close the Gap CA, these organizations push women who are willing to run for office to get out there and embrace their true talent.

All of these organizations do fabulous work for women, but, let’s put the spotlight on EMILY’s List for a moment. The highly successful women’s organization that was formed in 1986 that endorses pro-choice women for office has just launched a campaign called “Madam President”, which is aimed at getting a woman in the White House. Do you need me to be more specific? A Democratic, pro-choice woman.

Yesssssss.

Along with the launch, EMILY’s List has released a video to promote the national campaign. The video (below) features young girls sharing why they want a woman President and the benefits of having a woman in the White House.

Click to watch the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Y2-zpi-RWhQ

May we just take a moment to thank EMILY’s List and appreciate what they are doing? No, not just trying to get a woman in the White House, but featuring a few young girls talking about wanting to be President and what it would mean to them to have a woman be President in their life time. Young girls like the ones in the video are the future and already have a head start in political knowledge.

Instead of making fun of young girls who want a woman to represent the country and telling them that their dream is unrealistic, like I have been told over the years, EMILY’s List encourages young girls to reach for their dreams and make them possible. Finally, it looks as if there is hope for young girls to be interested in history when they are little, want to be in Congress when they’re a teenager or for Hillary Clinton to be their role model without being looked at funny or judged.

So, thanks EMILY’s List. You rock.

Gillibrand is just on a roll this week!

Courtesy to Google Images

In an essay for PolicyMic about ending sexual assault in the military, Gillibrand wrote:

“When women are at the table, a broader agenda is discussed, an agenda that looks out for all Americans, particularly those who are voiceless. Women’s voices are not better than men’s, they’re different and the broader perspective that we bring often leads to better results. That’s why I’ve been such an advocate for more women to run for office and make their voices heard.”

And this is why ProgressWomen loves Gillibrand.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/30/kirsten-gillibrand-quotes-women-need-to-run-for-office_n_3188445.html?utm_hp_ref=women&ir=Women

Courtesy to Truth Dig

The junior Senator from New York has many supporters nation wide. From her program, “Off the Sidelines” which supports women getting involved in politics, to being a well accomplished woman and Senator, there is no doubt that she could be planning to run for President in 2016.

“I find her to be very impressive,” said Howard Dean. “She often underwhelms people at first sight, [but] when you look under the hood, you find a first-class political mind and someone who has a great deal of skill.”

Do you think Gillibrand will run?

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/04/kirsten-gillibrand-run-for-president-90706.html#ixzz2S6Ifp0RH