Active Discussion Groups
- "Our Vote is Our Voice": Opinionated MAMA's Perspective on the 19th Amendment
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Wikipedia Our vote is our voice. So, if you ever think to yourself on voting day that finishing the laundry or staying late at work is more significant to your life than taking time out to visit the polls, well, think again.
MAMAs have something to celebrate this summer. August 18th marks the 90th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. The Amendment states:
“The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation."
The long awaited amendment was born out of the Women’s Suffrage Movement. Prior to its ratification in 1920, women did not have a voice in politics because we were not allowed to vote…by law. Before women were granted the right to vote themselves, we had to defer social and political power to men. Our views, opinions and perspectives were invisible, only to be represented by people who had no understanding of what it was like to be a woman in America...or a wife, a mother, daughter or sister.
Gaining the right to vote for women was no easy task. Between 1878, when the amendment was first introduced to Congress and 1920, before it was ratified, women activists worked tirelessly to champion voting rights for women. They organized, petitioned, and picketed to earn the right to have their voice heard in the political arena. Some used tactics such as hunger strikes, silent vigils, and parades. And to no surprise, fierce resistance met their activism. Women were heckled, jailed, physically attacked, and abused. Many had their own lives, and those of their children, threatened for their involvement in women’s rights organizations. Our grandmas and great grandmas have a greater legacy than those recipes for apple pie and pot roast. They empowered us to be part of the democratic discourse and participate in our democratic process.
The matriarchs of our families spoke up, and in doing so, gave us a voice, too. And by golly, we have a lot to say, so the laundry and emails can wait! But what can’t wait, is our political involvement. After all, we do not run the risk of getting jailed, beaten, or ostracized for exercising our voting rights….like women in other countries still do...so, in honor of all women, for just one day, put voting on the top of your “to do list.” We are so lucky to live in the U.S.A. where we are granted a government for the people and by the people, where we have the right to elect our officials and express our opinions. One person, one vote, one voice. We do not have to defer decisions to anyone else. Our grandmothers have passed the torch and empowered us, and our daughters are watching. Together, we can honor our nonis, nanas, grammys, bubbas and g.g.s and inspire our daughters. Our vote is our voice MAMAs. See you at the polls in November!
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ozzie
I have been writing and giving lectures since l985 on the gender imbalance in the United States Senate. After women received the right to vote, Alice Paul instead of focusing on equal rights should have zeroed in on the l7th Amendment.When it became added to our Constitution women did not have the right to vote,if they did that Amendment would have stated along with each state electing their own senators instead of being appointed by state legislators, the law could have read,"There shall be two senators from each state elected by popular vote; one being a qualified woman and one being a qualified man." I feel this could have helped women to have an equal voice from each state at the national level.We have a bicameral type of government and therefor women should be equally heard in the senate where each state has an equal voice. One of those voices should be that of a woman. Winnie Walsh, Authoron 09/20/10Reply -
Felix
I think you forgot one very important thing, our votes no longer matter. Just ask California. Not like obamadolf is paying ANY attention to the will of the people in any way, and if anything, as soon as we start to protest something, he bullies it through. Kagan is one example of that, and we can all expect her to put the women's movement back a few decades.on 08/09/10ReplyMichelleO-MAMA
Your vote IS your voice...we just shouldn't be able to vote on another person's Constitutional Rights...that is up to the courts to decide, not the majority. But, you absolutely get to vote on who you want representing your district...your state...and your country. So, please VOTE and make sure your voice is heard. Thanks MAMA!on 08/18/10Reply
Felix
LOL Not like voting has become obsolete, and sure, I will, I just have no faith in it any more, obamadolf has PROVEN that with this regime. And before you go on about how we are not to vote on constitutional issues, might want to back track and tell us all how the gay crap was even allowed to come to a vote in CA, IF THAT IS THE CASE (I think you are a bit confused as to what is and is not "Constitutional" LOL. I think the verbage you get this from is the part where everyone should have equal rights. The BS with the gays, and that bogus gay judge using his position to further his personal agenda, has nothing to do with equal rights, as the gays are asking for additional/special rights on the basis of their sexual dysfunction, not the same as "equal" by a long shot. Then of course you have the putrid fraud in charge who says point blank that he will force his death care through NO MATTER WHAT WE SAY OR WANT. And did you forget his intimidation tactics at the polls? Or how anyone who sees him for what he is automactically gets the lying accusation of being a racist? How, after all this fraudulent crime regarding the votes, can you still have so much faith in this failed, corrupt system that is as easily manipulated by those with the access to do so, as a 3 year old????on 08/19/10Reply
MichelleO-MAMA
Felix - Clearly, you and I see things differently and that is what I LOVE AND RESPECT about our system the most. Only in a free society can we have these conversations! Where people with vastly different opinions are heard. And, just like with our kids, we should listen to what they say, but at the end of the day, we have to decide the best course of action for our families. They aren't always going to get exactly what they want...sometimes they will, but sometimes they won't. If they irrational and having a temper tantrum, they ABSOLUTELY will not get what they want. If they are calm, well-mannered and using their "big girl/boy" voices, I listen...on 08/19/10Reply
MichelleO-MAMA
And, for the record, there is no "death care." It was simply "end of life counseling" that was going to be covered by insurance...and for someone who recently lost someone I love very much, we had end of life counseling...because we wanted to do the best thing for my uncle...and we were scared and we didn't know what the right thing to do was...it gave my family comfort to talk to someone...and it gave us information, so we knew what to expect. But, because of a lot of distortion by the right-wing using terms like "death panels" to freak everyone out, that has been taken out of the healthcare legislation, so now we get to pay for it. People are afraid of what they don't understand...until you go through it, you don't know the value of it.on 08/19/10Reply
Felix
LOL The gays and illegals have proven you wrong. All you get are lies, hyterics, threats, and complete BS, as they bully their agendas on the rest of the country, and obamadolf is LETTING THEM GET AWAY WITH ALL OF IT. So much for only listening to those using "well-mannered" or "big girl/boy" voices. Obamadolf listens to them over the sane, reasonable, fair, calm voices.on 08/20/10Reply
Felix
Been there, done that, for my mother, sister, all grandparents, numerous friends, and my one true love, so BITE ME! I know plenty about losing loved ones, so don't you dare try to play superior because you can site one example. Makes as much sense as trying to play like I never read the provisions of this crappy DEATH CARE bill. And, if you weren't being so narrow minded about the whole thing, you may have realized I was referring to the lot of it, not just the counseling stuff. Anyone can get that for free, you just haven't done your homework on it, apparently. As someone who beat cancer before I was 25, this BS about trying to get women to blow off exams until they are what, 50? sounds like he hates women. How about you get off your high horse and quit trying to make judgements when you don't know jack about what you are talking about? Makes you sound like one of those libtards.on 08/20/10Reply
MichelleO-MAMA
Hmmm...I thought we were having a respectful conversation. Guess not.on 08/29/10Reply
Felix
You seem to forget that anyone white and not sexually confused is targeted for hate crime charges just for not agreeing, even if in a very well-mannered way. One poor guy even lost his job for it right after obamadolf put the bogus hate crime legislation (criminalistic gays are now free to openly hate and discriminate against straight people, and victimize them in any way they choose). Might want to rethink as to how even freedom of speech has been curtailed by this regime.on 08/30/10Reply
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syrgrl78
I fully agree. One of my biggest pet peeves is women not recognizing the significance of being able to vote. Also, people that do not exercise their right to vote have no right to complain about any political issues.on 08/08/10Reply -
MrsPhel
I nearly go insane when I think of all the women before us fighting for the right to vote and then we have illegals come into this country DEMANDING rights we fought for.on 08/07/10Reply -
snflwrshell
I remember watching a movie about a particular women's suffrage worker as a preteen. I felt this intense stirring inside, wishing I could have been there, standing up for women's equality, putting my own life on the line for a belief that was so progressive and positive! I have held that passion inside me since and THAT is why I am such a politically active woman today.. and I try to pass that passion on to my kids! If its not politics that fires their souls, than I hope they find it and it moves them in the same way!on 08/06/10Reply -
shebaydem
We should reach out to other women and encourage them to vote. It is our duty to vote.on 08/03/10Reply
