20 good things that happened in 2017
4. Women made large political strides
Let’s not deny it: the political landscape looks pretty grim when it comes to women’s issues. With Republicans controlling both houses of Congress and the executive branch, the focus has shifted to a, shall we say, less friendly position.
The availability of birth control is under attack, as are abortion rights and other medical access issues. Meanwhile, members of the White House cabinet are overwhelmingly white and male. The Equal Rights Amendment now seems like a distant dream.
On bad days, it can feel like we’re in the early stages of The Handmaid’s Tale. It might look like women are under assault, along with other vulnerable groups like immigrants, people of color and LGBTQ people (to name only a few). In some cases, we really are facing serious foes who want to dismantle our rights.
But take a second before you fully descend into a Margaret Atwood-style dystopia. Thanks to some significant political wins, women are poised to make some big changes. In all of the political darkness of 2017, there were some truly bright lights thanks to women.
Women made political history this year
November’s 2017 elections proved to be especially exciting for female candidates. Throughout the nation, women gained local and national office in unexpected but welcome numbers. Vi Lyles became the first black woman mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina. Sheila Oliver was elected Lt. Governor of New Jersey; she’s also the first black woman ever elected to the office.
Two women — Mary Norwood and Keisha Lance Bottoms — were in a close contest to become mayor of Atlanta, Georgia. After a contested election and a likely exhausting recount, Norwood conceded the race to Bottoms in late December.
Transgender women also made history that election night. Andrea Jenkins became the first openly transgender black women elected to public office when she won a seat on the Minneapolis City Council. Althea Garrison was actually the first transgender woman ever elected, but she was not out during her election.
Danica Roem’s victory in the Virginia state legislature was especially sweet. She was running against Bob Marshall, who called himself the state’s “chief homophobe” and was a staunch conservative.
If this gets you fired up for the crucial 2018 elections, you’re not alone. Women are running for office in record numbers, with most aligning themselves with the Democratic Party.