Talking politics

Suzanne Reisman — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 08:20:59 -0600

Hey Alex,

That is a very interesting observation. Do you have a sense of why people you know are reluctant to engage in political discussions in person? Also, do you find that is true more for women than men?

I know that you and I talk politics all the time, so I also wonder if it has to do with worrying about offending someone you might not know well if you say something in person. Still, that puzzles me. I'm curious to know what you think.

Suzanne

Suzanne Reisman, Contributing Editor - Feminism & Gender
Campaign for Unshaved Snatch (CUSS)& Other Rants

Interesting

A Elliot — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 20:49:37 -0600

I wonder why that is. Is it because many married women have kids and are thus looking at the world and how it impacts their kids? Is it because by living with someone, they are more likely to talk about politics and encourage each other to vote? Then what about people who live together, but are not married? I would like to see more people, both men and women, vote. I think blogging is a wonderful way for people to spread the word. I also think it's a great way to read people's personal opinions about the candidates and learn why they support them. I find that many people I know are reluctant to engage in political discussions face to face.
Alex Elliot, Formula Fed and Flexible Parenting

Got Something on Your Mind? Say It Loud

Suzanne Reisman — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 08:23:50 -0600

What is the best way to create change? One essential strategy is to make sure that it is clear that change is wanted by making our voices heard. There are many ways to go about doing this. One way is to vote, another option is to speak out in public forums, and a third is to express one's needs and desires in writing. Women around the world are using all three methods, demanding to be heard.

When it comes to voting in the United States, (married) women are taking a leading role. As Pam Pohly at Everyday Citizen wrote in July:

Women make up 51 percent of the population and 55 percent of all registered voters. For six decades after women obtained the right to vote in 1920, they voted at lower rates than men. In the 1980 election women caught up with men, and according to U.S. Census data, in every subsequent election, women have voted at an increasingly higher rate than men.

In all recent elections, women have outvoted men (in terms of both turnout rates and actual numbers) in every racial and ethnic group - African American, Latino, Asian/Pacific Islander, and white.

In 2004, the rate of voter turnout was 60.1 % for women, compared with 56.3% for men. The difference in 2004 translated to 8.8 million more female voters than male voters. 2004 is up from 2000 by a million extra women voters, since in 2000, only 7.8 million more women than men voted. So, perhaps, in 2008, there will be over 10 million more female voters than male voters! That's a big difference.

Pohly expressed her disappointment that women did not have proportional representation in questions asked at a YouTube presidential debate. However, in the comments to her essay, Nancy McDonald noted that this was because fewer women submitted video questions. "Out of the first 200 videos submitted, only 34 were from women. I have been encouraging women to make their voices heard," she wrote.

Yes, making our voices heard is critical, which is why in my second paragraph I noted that married women are leading the way in having a say in public affairs by voting. Single women, statistics unfortunately indicate, lag significantly behind married women when it comes to hitting the polls on election day. Nancy McDonald from Women's Voices. Women Vote reports that:

For the first time in history, the number of unmarried women equals the number of married women. Unmarried women span all ages, are independent, and are the largest demographic group of non-voters in the country -- 20 million single women did not vote in 2004! In the last presidential election, unmarried women trailed behind married women by nine percentage points in voter registration and by 12 percentage points in actual voting.

As a female who vividly recalls wandering around my school bus in 1980 trying to convince kids to convince their parents to vote for Carter because "Reagan is bad for people" (I'm not sure how a second grader like myself could figure this out when so many adults are still confused about the Reagan legacy), I find it upsetting that single women aren't bothering to vote. Fortunately, Women's Voices. Women Vote is organizing a massive educational push to encourage single women to vote. Check out the public service announcements on their website and read the press release.

On the other side of the world, women have been organizing and speaking out about peace in Israel and Palestine. Partners for Peace, a nonprofit organization that works to educate the American public about key issues in the effort to secure peace and justice among Palestinians and Israelis. Partners for Peace sponsors Jerusalem Women Speak, a tour of three women designed "to bring the voices of women from the Jerusalem area and from the two national communities and three religious groups directly to Americans in their own home towns." The 14th tour is underway in the Southwest as I type this. Check them out and hear what they have to say. If you aren't able to see them in person, you can listen to the Santa Fe Radio Café podcast hosted by Mary-Charlotte.

Of course, by blogging, we are all doing our part in making our voices heard, whether about politics, peace in the Middle East, or washing the dishes.

Suzanne also blogs at Campaign for Unshaved Snatch (CUSS) & Other Rants

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Talking politics

Interesting

Got Something on Your Mind? Say It Loud