Minority Women in the Senate and its Effect on America
The election of minority women in the Senate helps create a more accurate reflection of our demography
By Alyssa Reyes
The Progressive Teen Staff Writer
DESPITE NOT BEING ABLE TO BREAK THE GLASS CEILNG, women have managed to make further cracks within it by electing women of color to Senate seats. There are three Asian American women who will serve in the 114th Congress alongside current Asian-Pacific Senator Mazie Hirono. Senator Hirono is an Asian-Pacific woman who is currently serving in the chamber and is the first Asian-American female senator since 2012.
Representative Tammy Duckworth of Illinois is the daughter of a Thai-Chinese mother and American father. She is a veteran of the Iraq War, where as an Army pilot, she lost both legs when her helicopter was hit by a grenade. Her opponent, Senator Mark Kirk, commented on Duckworth’s heritage and military experience, which costed him the elections. Mark Kirk’s racist dig at Duckworth’s heritage speaks volumes about the narrative that minorities are facing today. Despite having the credentials speak for her values and integrity, she is still faced with racism and prejudice.
“Mark Kirk’s racist dig at Duckworth’s heritage speaks volumes about the narrative that minorities are facing today.”
State Attorney General Kamala Harris of California succeeded Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer. She is the daughter of immigrants from India and Jamaica. She is the second black woman elected to the Senate and the first to have South Asian familial ties. Additionally, Harris is the first Indian American senator to ever be elected. Kamala Harris was endorsed by President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and EMILY’s List, along with other prominent endorsers. Kamala Harris defeated her opponent Loretta Sanchez, a Latina. The race between Harris and Sanchez was unprecedented and proved to be a big step for minorities as both candidates are women of color; both would’ve established their own precedents as one of them take office.
Former State Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto from Nevada is the first Latina to be elected in Congress. She is a daughter of Mexican immigrants. She beat her Republican counterpart, Representative Joe Heck, with a margin of 4 percent. Masto received endorsements from President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, First Lady Michelle Obama, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
According to Pew Research, one in five members of the House and Senate are people of color, while minority women make up only 6% of Congress and just 5% of state legislators. This is the most diverse Congress in history. Despite this pluralism, Congress still hasn’t been able to accurately represent the diversity of the U.S. population. There is a disproportionate number of white Congress members to the varied population of the U.S.
It has been a long winded road for minorities in the Senate. Women and minorities are not given enough opportunities to lead their community. With those issues not being addressed sufficiently while there is an inadequate representation of our demography in Congress, women and minorities are affected the most. It is imperative to address the issue as to why 51% of the population is comprised of women, yet less than a fifth of legislators is reflective of that statistic. As women minorities get elected into office, people are more inspired to become a part of the political process since they feel that the government represents their beliefs, dreams and aspirations.
Senators like Masto, Harris, Duckworth, and Hirono are reflective of our diversity. They are bringing minorities to the forefront of their agendas: the very people that make up about 63% of America. We may not have broken the highest and the hardest glass ceiling, but it has 64 million cracks in it — and further down the road, we may finally shatter it. We can take solace to the fact that Senators Masto, Harris, Duckworth, and Hirono give us hope that we are on the way toward true progress. Diversity is our strength and we must wield it with pride and great hope for the future.
