On Sept. 17, the Women’s and Gender Studies Program hosted the first event as part of the Centennial of Women’s Suffrage Series. With 100 participants, the event was held via Zoom and allowed time for students to ask questions at the end using the chat feature. As 2020 recognizes the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the nineteenth amendment which gave women the right to vote in the United States, the series serves as a way to look at both the largest expansion of women’s enfranchisement in the United States as well as the ongoing struggle for women of color, people of color and many other marginalized communities in the United States to have the right to vote.
With the event having taken place on Constitution Day, the department thought this would be the perfect opportunity to have assistant political science professor, Brandon Ranallo-Benavidez, give a presentation that covered the history of women’s fight for equality and equity from the founding of the United States, the women’s suffrage struggle, the equal rights amendment and ongoing factors with these struggles that persist today.
As women make up more than half of the U.S. population, the Women’s and Gender Studies program found it important to discuss the topic of Women in the U.S. Constitution and the ongoing struggle for gender equity on Constitution Day.
“Every year we like to recognize Constitution Day because we recognize the great strength and values of the foundations [and] the founding documents upon [which] this country was built. So we like to
celebrate it and look back and think about it and remember the American Revolution, the revolutionary struggles…the founding values that all men are created equal and perhaps, dare I say, all men, and women are created equal,” Jennifer Disney, director of the women’s and gender studies program.
With the upcoming election, the Women’s and Gender studies field will experience a significant impact.
“Women are a growing percentage of the electorate. For whatever reason, women use their right to vote at higher rates than men do. So even though they only make up 51 percent or maybe 52 percent depending on the state population, they routinely make up 55 percent to 56 percent of the electorate. Women vote at higher rates, especially women of color vote at much higher rates than [their] percentages of the population. There are political groundbreakings that could happen for female candidates, like Senator Harris, as well as for the everyday voting populace. There’s some interesting ways that women, especially women voters, could influence the outcomes of all types of elections. Not just the presidential race, but the South Carolina senate race here for instance,” Ranallo-Benevidez said.
During the event, it was emphasized that one of the ways for students to help make change was by exercising their right to vote.
“We are a part of the [ALL IN: Campus Democracy Challenge] and we have been identified as a voter friendly campus and so students should definitely know about voter registration deadlines and [make plans] to vote… this is a good time for women and men of all races and classes and sexualities and diverse identities to get out there and let your voice be heard. This is one way you could do it, is through the
electoral process,” Disney said.
While women may have been given the right to vote nearly 100 years ago, the fight for equality and gender equity in the United States is still an ongoing struggle.
“I was reminded that there is still a fight going on, especially with the Me Too Movement and with the equal rights amendment, I actually didn’t know that we had all the states ratify it necessary and we’re just kind of waiting on Congress so I absolutely will be contacting my congressional representatives today,” political science major and first year student, Hannah Switzer said.
In light of the Centennial of Women’s right to vote, there are more events that the Women’s and Gender Studies program planned for this series. The event dates include: Iron Jaw Angels film and Discussion with Jennifer Disney on Sept. 28 at 7 p.m., Black Women and the Suffrage Movement with Jennifer-Dixon McKnight on Oct. 8 at 11 a.m., Hard Won, Not Done: Suffrage History in the US with Karen Kedrowski on Oct. 27 at 11 a.m. via Zoom and “The Divine Order” film and discussion with Jennifer Disney on Nov. 18 at 7 p.m.
Photo by Jamia Johnson
