MWPC's Blog: October 2015

Monday, October 26, 2015

Votes for Women!

To win the vote for women, women across the world risked their lives, the basic right of voting is still fought around the world. The 2015 film Suffragette, is inspired by the early-20th-century campaign of the Suffragettes, who were activists for Women’s Suffrage – the right of women to vote. Now almost 100 years since women have gotten the vote, the votes of women are increasingly important; and there is even the chance of the United States having it's first female President. Though women have come so far in the fight to achieve equality, there is still so much to do and we do not forget our Suffragette sisters who fought for the fundamental right to vote.

On Thursday, October 29, Focus Films is hosting an early screening of their new film Suffragette at the Kendall Square Theatre in Boston. The event will begin at 7 pm, and all are welcome to RSVP using the link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1bg8s8iMWHEt0Ey88PXMWmVneTxw4eVBfODWJWmyCY9Q/viewform

Stop Accusing Powerful Women of Shouting

“I’m not shouting. It’s just when women talk, some people think we’re shouting.” –Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton spoke some serious truth to power this past week at the Women’s Leadership Forum in Washington D.C. After enduring a grueling, hostile, 11-hour hearing on the Benghazi terror attack, Clinton took to the stage and proved to the American public that she will not be silenced. With respect to the issue of gun control, an issue Clinton has pledged to address as President of the United States with or without Congressional approval, the former Secretary of State came out swinging and pledged to remain vocal about the issue despite others criticizing her for “shouting.”

This quote perfectly encapsulates the struggle many women face in American politics today. When women care deeply about issues and demonstrate a clear passion and commitment to resolve them, their efforts are frequently invalidated and belittled. Say what you will about Hillary Clinton and her politics, but attacking her for bringing gun control to the forefront of the American political discourse is petty and childish. Rather than condescending women for caring about issues that affect them, it would be far more productive for others to engage with them over those issues in order to create a substantive, nuanced dialogue the American public deserves during any given election cycle.

In her speech at the Women’s Leadership Forum, Clinton said, “But as I said from the start, I wanted to rise above partisanship and reach for statesmanship, and that’s what I’ve tried to do.” In moving forward, let us all take that quote to heart and work together in rising above the trivial and digging into the issues that affect us as Americans.

--Talia Lepson, MWPC Intern

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Get to Know Representative Kay Khan!

With just under a week to go before the big night- get to know one of our Abigail Adams Honoree's, Representative Kay Khan!

Monday, October 19, 2015

5 Things to Know About Abigail Adams Honoree Josafina Bonilla

The MWPC's Annual Tribute to Abigail Adams recognizes outstanding women leaders in Massachusetts, the Awards will be held Tuesday October 27th at 6pm, Josaphina Bonilla will be honored on that night.