One hundred year ago, suffragists - who were nearly all Republicans (including my Quaker ancestors) - were on the brink of winning the franchise. Soon thereafter, emboldened by their success with suffrage, Alice Paul and Crystal Eastman wrote the first Equal Rights Amendment which was introduced in Congress in 1923. Despite opposition from human rights stalwarts like Eleanor Roosevelt, support for a modern ERA grew through the 1960s & 1970s until it was a standard plank in party platforms of both the Republican and Democratic parties. Representative Martha Griffiths - the first woman elected to Congress from Michigan - re-introduced the ERA in Congress in 1971 where it was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on October 12, 1971 and by the U.S. Senate on March 22, 1972. After passage in Congress it was sent to the states for ratification which triggered an intense period of organizing led by Molly Yard, Ellie Smeal, Gloria Steinem and many others to ensure passage.

There are now 26 women in the United States Senate following the swearing in this week of Kelly Loeffler from Georgia - this is the highest number of women to serve in the U.S. Senate - ever - according to this story from Politico: Republican Kelly Loeffler was formally sworn in Monday as the newest senator from Georgia, replacing retired Sen. Johnny Isakson and becoming only the second woman to represent the state in the Senate. “This is the most women to ever serve in the Senate, and it comes at a time when we need more diverse voices in politics, not fewer,” they said in a joint statement. “It took 27 years to go from two women to 26, and we should be able to reach equal representation in the Senate much more quickly.”

Happy 2020. It's a big year for many reasons. It's of course the centennial of the 19th amendment that granted most women the right to vote. It's the sesquicentennial of the 15th amendment that granted men of color the right to vote. It's an election year in the United States. And it's a year that demands we come together with people around the globe to pass legislation and enact laws that protect our environment, nurture diplomacy, advance women's representation, and address the economic, educational and health needs of everyone - no exceptions. Our individual and collaborative work is essential.

This has been a big week of news from Capitol Hill but I am going to steer clear of that topic as I suspect there is a variety of opinion on the matter among all of you interesting, passionate, and committed people! I will report though, that we hosted students this morning from the Capital City Public Charter School who chose RepresentWomen as the recipient of their decorated-by-hand cookies. We had a lively exchange about the need for airports named for women, the rank of the United States among nations for women's representation, voting at 16, and the number of women in office. It was a total joy to listen to their answers to my many questions - I felt almost like Scrooge at the end of the Christmas Carol when he is so enthusiastic to find he is alive after a night of ghostly visitations that he almost overwhelms the young boy he commissions to help him buy gifts for others! I can't think of a better motivation for the work we all do than these children. I hope that you can feel the power of their potential that I experienced today.

I always feel conflicted about this holiday - I love spending time with family & friends and making time to reflect on things for which we are grateful, but I am also mindful of the troubling narrative around the early settlers - many of whom were my ancestors.

Gender parity in the new European Commission is a huge success, as is the number of countries reaching parity for their MEPs; but, for true gender equality to exist, women must have equal access and roles in all levels of government including municipal, national and supranational.

"During my time at RepresentWomen, I look forward to adding my passion as a feminist and my skills to help with the work started by the incredible people working here. Beyond this, I hope to learn more about the status of women's representation and leadership in my home country before taking what I have learned into the international realm."

Despite the changes in public opinion, women’s role in Brexit and the focus on Brexit’s impact on women, has remained stagnant.

New Zealand’s actions for gender and Indigenous inclusion are working, it is now just a matter of ensuring Indigenous women have the same voice as their male and non-Indigenous counterparts. 

To achieve progress in women’s representation in many countries, including Brazil, a change in systems which enable and support the disenfranchisement of women and minorities is needed.