By Sarah Tucker
Despite differences in political ideology, female voters – Democrats, Republicans, and Independents – maintain significant power over the implementation of policy reform and practice. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, Texas women have voted at a much higher rate than Texas men since at least 2014 – a statistic that demonstrates the impact of the female presence in politics. Following the words of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, “Women belong in all places where decisions are being made.”
More than a century ago, women’s activism birthed their political involvement in securing the right to fully participate in the electoral process. Their sacrifices live today as political power has transferred from generation to generation. Today’s women are poised to carry the female legacy of voting activism so persistently and sacrificially exemplified by our ancestral mothers. We have the opportunity to rewrite policies through our votes, using our voices to challenge the legislative pen.
We see the intersection of women’s personal, social, and cultural identities as we navigate politics that affect our lives. Whether we vote Democrat or Republican, the power of the female vote is integral to our state’s prosperity.
Women cannot be reduced to passive roles in politics. We are the carriers of our ancestor’s legacy, continuing our genealogy from policy followers to policy writers. Female voters are living testaments to the political power of being present. Please take the time to vote in this year’s election.
Early Voting Continues: 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31-Friday, Nov. 4
Election Day: 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8
Sarah Tucker is a Baylor University social work intern in behavioral health for Prosper Waco.