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PHOENIX -- South Dakota’s constitution refers to the governor as a “he.”
But for the past six years, the governor was a “she” — Kristi Noem, the first female to hold the position there. The conservative Republican pushed a constitutional amendment to change the gendered language. But voters rejected the measure in the 2024 general election that also would have been inclusive of nonbinary people.
Across the nation, state constitutions presume officeholders are male, and they increasingly are outdated. This year, a record of 13 women were serving as governor before Noem stepped down to serve in President Donald Trump's Cabinet. In state legislatures, 2,469 women are serving, according to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University.
Most states haven't modernized their constitutions to reflect the rise of women in politics. Among those that have are New York's, which became gender-neutral in 2001, and Vermont's, where voters approved a change from “men” to “persons” in 1994.
Read here the full article published by ABC News on 9 February 2025.
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This article by Fjola Zlatku was first published in Albanian by Portalb.mk and translated into English by Meta.mk. An edited version is republished here under a content-sharing agreement between Global Voices and Metamorphosis Foundation.
Despite visible progress in the fight for women’s rights, increased representation of women in politics and greater attention to issues affecting women, the tendency to express contempt and insult women persists. More specifically, these attacks target women who are increasingly exposed to hate speech because of their profession, especially on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). In most cases, this kind of speech is used as a tool to undermine their dignity and social standing, according to Portalb.mk.
A study by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) revealed that in the first half of 2024, 3,380 comments with sexist language targeting women in politics were identified. These tend to peak during pre-election periods. The problem is further exacerbated by the inadequate regulation of social platforms, which often fail to effectively address ongoing violations against women in the public sector, as well as by the impunity enjoyed by perpetrators from the relevant authorities. This lack of accountability negatively affects both women who are targeted and broader efforts to promote respectful public discourse.
Read here the full article published by Global Voices on 20 December 2024.
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The old saying “all politics is local” has become increasingly outdated in a world of growing political polarization. In recent years, federal lawmakers have been motivated to focus more on national politics, WashU political scientist Jaclyn Kaslovsky said.
“Politics has become more competitive, and representatives from both parties feel incentives to coalesce around national brands,” said Kaslovsky, an assistant professor of political science in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis.
Still, some politicians continue to keep their home districts in mind. In a paper recently published in the American Journal of Political Science, Kaslovsky and co-author Pamela Ban, an assistant professor of political science at the University of California, San Diego, found that women in the U.S. House of Representatives were especially likely to discuss their districts when speaking on the congressional floor. “Women are bringing their constituents into the conversation,” Kaslovsky said.
Read here the full article published by the Washington University in St. Louis on 23 January 2025.
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Newly appointed Minister of State Niamh Smyth has conceded the Government has a “big body of work” ahead of it in arresting a gender divide in politics after less than a quarter of ministerial posts were assigned to women.
The Cavan-Monaghan TD was one of six women to be appointed to minister of state roles by Taoiseach Micheál Martin yesterday with the remaining 17 positions going to their male counterparts.
That followed three out of 15 full cabinet positions which went to women less than a week earlier, figures which meant just 24pc of the 38 posts which were up for grabs went to females.
Ms Smyth had been widely touted for promotion following her eye-catching performances as chair of the Oireachtas Media Committee during various RTÉ payments controversies last year.
Read here the full article published by the Irish Independent on 31 January 2025.
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Among the most pressing issues we face today is the persistent harassment of women in politics and government — a problem that undermines both the integrity of public service and the diversity of leadership our communities desperately need.
Across the nation, women in the political sphere face heightened scrutiny, verbal attacks, and even threats of violence simply for doing their jobs. Indiana is no exception. From social media vitriol aimed at female candidates to inappropriate behavior within government offices, harassment in its many forms continues to discourage talented women from entering and remaining in public service. If we want Indiana to thrive, we cannot afford to allow this environment to persist.
The statistics are alarming. Studies show that women in politics are disproportionately targeted by online abuse compared to their male counterparts. Harassment often focuses on gender, appearance, or personal life, rather than policy or qualifications, creating an additional mental and emotional burden for female leaders. For many, these attacks don’t stop at words. A 2022 survey by the Center for American Women and Politics found that 25% of women in public office reported threats or acts of violence.
Read here the full article published by the Indiana Capital Chronicle on 31 January 2025.
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British MP Jess Phillips describing the online attacks she has received from Elon Musk in recent days as “very, very, very tiring” will have struck a chord with many women. Powerful men trying to silence women happens so often that it rarely makes news.
But Musk’s comments calling Phillips, who currently serves as safeguarding minister, a “rape genocide apologist” and saying she should be in prison has brought the online abuse of women politicians, and the danger that it presents, back into sharp focus.
Never before has an overseas tech mogul (who happens to be the world’s richest man) targeted government ministers and MPs for personal abuse like this. The accusations have encouraged others to attack Phillips, posing a very real threat to her safety. Phillips has reportedly been assigned close protection officers and been told not to go out in public alone.
Read here the full article published by The Conversation on 10 January 2025.
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