“Women are on fire, activated, ready to make change.”
— Cecile Richards, former president of Planned Parenthood and a founder of Supermajority, a new women’s advocacy group
What is this new political movement Supermajority and why is it important?
Women comprise 51% of the United States, makeup half of the economy, and have more representation today than ever in Congress. Now three women—and dozens of others behind them—want to harness that power to amplify women’s voices, increase civic engagement and drive change. Source: Fortune
Three prominent activists have launched an organization seeking to encourage women to use their political power to influence the country’s elections, including the upcoming 2020 presidential race.
Headed up by Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia Garza, former Planned Parenthood chief Cecile Richards, and executive director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, Ai-jen Poo, “Supermajority,” as the group has been dubbed, aims to mobilize at least 2 million women over the next year to become political leaders within their communities.
“Women are marching, running for office, donating to and advocating for causes and campaigns, and voting in record numbers. We can be the most powerful force in America—if we do the work together,” Supermajority’s website states. “One woman can be ignored, two can be dismissed, but together, we’re a Supermajority, and we’re unstoppable.” Source: Msn News
Women are marching, running for office, donating to and advocating for causes and campaigns, and voting in record numbers. We can be the most powerful force in America—if we do the work together.
We’re building a Supermajority of women* who are organizing for gender equity. Sign up to be a founding member and be part of this from the beginning.
*And everyone who shares our values! Source: Website of the Supermajority.
Their agenda
Specifically, Supermajority says it will mobilize 2 million women ahead of the 2020 elections while building energy around a “women’s new deal”—an agenda to meet the needs of 21st-century women, from closing the persistent pay gap to “staggering childcare costs, rising maternal mortality, no family leave, and a government that continues to fail women,” the group announced in its introductory press statement. It seeks to support as well as increase the rising numbers of women running for elected office. Although women make up about 54 percent of voters, we are only 23.7 percent of Congress; that’s even after the spectacular surge of 2018.
Lesson plan
- Read the information about the movement Supermajority,a new political organization dedicated to building tangible power, and watch the videos.
- Write a blog post where you discuss women’s roles in politics in the USA.
- Write about the founders of Supermajority; Alicia Garza, former Planned Parenthood chief Cecile Richards, and executive director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, Ai-jen Poo
- How do you think this could change the next US election, could it make a difference?