The Year of the Woman
What Does This Mean?
Until January, when the new administration is sworn in and takes over, there is no way of knowing exactly what will come from this more equal representation in Congress and what the future will hold. Though, many believe that this year will truly affect the number of women in politics and will not stop with this year, but continue to grow.
This is only just the beginning. I think we are going to see a historical turnout of women in 2020- this is not dying down.
Stephanie Schriock
(president of Emily's List, a group that supports women in politics)
However, there are several possible results from having a more equal representation in government, the main result being the majority of the country is more fairly represented.
Another possible result of a more diverse female representation could ensure that more women in the electorate are better represented. Different perspectives will beget new ideas and legislature, another effect of more representation. A study conducted on Congress in the mid-1990s compared similar female and male legislature. The outcome found that women co-sponsored five times more bills relating to women’s health issues. Having this representation means women are more likely to prioritize the issues that relate and affect women.
This new group of women could also continue the turning tide of more equal representation by impacting how the public’s perceives women in politics and evolves the idea of what a woman in politics looks like. The more women that run could influence other women to run as well. As there are several firsts for diversity in this group, they could provide examples for the future. Young girls and women may be inspired to see politics as a possible option for them by having a new definition of what a qualified candidate looks and sounds like.
There is also a possibility of achieving more in Congress with having higher female representation, according to a study which found as opposed to their male counterparts, female legislatures brought back $49 million more for their districts annually.