Women's Equality Day Commemorates Franchise, Struggle for Equality
August
26 marks Women's Equality Day. Established by Congress in 1971, it celebrates the 1920 passage of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the vote. The holiday also marks women's continuing struggle for political equality.
Despite accounting for over half the U.S. population, women make up only 14% of the House and 15% of the Senate. The root of under-representation is our winner-take-all system of legislative elections. Countries with proportional voting have about twice as many women in their legislatures. Winner-take-all, however, means they probably won't even win nomination.
[ How winner-take-all hurts women ]
[ How proportional voting helps & other resources ]
Despite accounting for over half the U.S. population, women make up only 14% of the House and 15% of the Senate. The root of under-representation is our winner-take-all system of legislative elections. Countries with proportional voting have about twice as many women in their legislatures. Winner-take-all, however, means they probably won't even win nomination.
[ How winner-take-all hurts women ]
[ How proportional voting helps & other resources ]