Women in politics: Kamala Harris makes history, Canadians reaction
Canadians reaction:
Navjot Sanghera, a political science researcher said, "I think it’s a tremendous advancement towards more inclusive leadership at the most senior levels of government in the United States. I read somewhere that young women “can’t be it unless they see it” and I feel that’s a very appropriate portrayal of how young women are viewing Harris’ election as Vice-President."
“For young girls who come from racialized communities, she offers a positive and inspiring role model.”
“Her electoral victory and appointment also speak volumes about the perseverance, resilience, and strength of BIPOC candidates in politics to rise above the types of harassment they continue to be subjected to,” said Sanghera.
Kamal Khera, a member of parliament for Brampton West says, “the election of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris is a historic moment for women and girls all over the world,” especially the BIPOC community.
Khera said, “personally, to see someone that looks like me, her name sounds like me and someone with that leadership role in politics is quite special, it is quite a watershed movement.”
"Recently, the appointment of Minister Freeland as the first-ever female Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, to have over 100 women in the House of Commons with the byelection of Marci and Yaara. It shows how far we have come and certainly pushes us and encourages us to keep the pressure on keep moving forward because we have awfully a lot of work to do.”
Krisantha Antonythasan, a third-year political science student at the University of Ottawa said, “Kamala Harris’s vice presidency is so important. It shows women of color, who are often disadvantaged by the systems of social stratification like race and gender, that they will be able to fulfill such positions.”
“Having representation is important especially in politics so that the issues that many women of color have faced can adequately be addressed and brought to attention after being neglected for so long,” said Anthonythasan.
Women in American politics:
Patsy Mink, an Asian American was the first woman of color to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1969.
According to UN Women in politics: 2020, "as of Jan. 2020, the U.S. sits in 82nd place out of 193 countries of women in parliament. Rwanda sits in the first place and Canada is at 58th place."
Woman in ministerial positions is even lower, America is at 107th place out of 190 countries, which means only 15-19.99 percent of total ministers, senators and cabinet members in the U.S. are women.
105 out of the 127 women serving are Democrats, and 22 are Republican.
These statistics are from before the election but they are going to change in 2021 because Kamala Harriss will be sworn in as an American vice president.
Kamala Harris is the first woman of color elected vice-president in the White house.
On Nov. 3, Kamala Harris made history as the first woman and first woman of color vice president-elect after Joe Biden won the 46th American presidential election.
Kamala Harris will make history on Jan. 21 2021 when she is sworn in as vice president, becoming the first woman and a woman of color in the White House.
Harris, a California senator of Indian and Jamaican heritage will also be the first mixed-race to serve as U.S. vice president.
Why did it take so long to have the first woman of color elected vice-president in the White House?
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