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As 2020 goes down in historical past, will probably be remembered for extra than simply the yr that the coronavirus pandemic modified the world as we all know it. The yr 2020 can even be remembered for the ladies from many various walks of life who made a profound influence and nice progress, from feminine politicians and girls making strides in company America to frontline nurses offering care and reduction in these very difficult occasions.
“In a yr like no different — and actually like no different — I want to mirror on the triumphs and challenges of girls who shattered ceilings, demanded extra and paved the best way for a brighter yr forward regardless of all odds,” stated Mika Brzezinski, Know Your Worth founder and “Morning Joe” co-host.
In a digital roundtable interview this month, Brzezinski spoke with Kristen Welker, NBC Information White Home correspondent and Weekend TODAY co-anchor, Susan Del Percio, senior advisor to The Lincoln Challenge, Errin Haines, editor-at-large for “The 19th” and Dr. Nahid Bhadelia, affiliate professor at Boston College Faculty of Medication and MSNBC medical contributor. The ladies mirrored a few of these monumental moments for ladies – particularly girls of shade – and what this implies for the longer term.
Women and the election cycle
In politics, this yr was distinctive within the sense that within the election cycle, women on both sides of the aisle broke records throughout the nation, profitable at least 141 seats in Congress. Moreover, Vice President-elect Sen. Kamala Harris made strides as the primary feminine, Black, South Asian-American elected to the nation’s second highest workplace.
RELATED: Inside the movement that swept Republican women into Congress
“It’s a rare yr,” Haines stated, mentioning that many ladies of shade needed to proceed to battle all through historical past to have a voice and be represented. “Girls have helped to usher in probably the most numerous Congress in historical past,” Haines stated. Given the notably difficult yr, it was notable that ladies had been capable of pull this off regardless of this time of suffrage and setback. That stated, Haines defined that whereas girls are making nice progress in politics, they nonetheless have a protracted technique to go. “We all know that ladies nonetheless should not represented in step with their demographic numbers on this nation,” she stated. Haines believes that will probably be fairly attention-grabbing to see how gender elements into coverage within the months and years forward.
Welker added that ladies profitable extra seats in Congress and the primary feminine and Black vp elected sends a message to little ladies that they’ll do that too and have a voice. Now, the world will watch to see what these girls will do with their elected workplaces. Will they tackle crucial points which might be impacting girls? Will there be insurance policies which might be instantly focused to girls to assist them get again into the workforce? Will they tackle points impacting communities of shade which were disproportionately hit by the Covid-19 pandemic? Welker has confidence that these girls in positions of energy will pave the best way for extra milestones as they work to make an influence.
Impact of incoming First Lady Dr. Jill Biden
Incoming First Woman Dr. Jill Biden was additionally celebrated as a lady of 2020, rising above challenges and stereotypes. In Dr. Biden’s case, she was unintentionally a part of an issue introduced on by an op-ed in The Wall Road Journal that questioned whether or not she ought to maintain the honorific doctorate title earlier than her title.
RELATED: WATCH: Mika to WSJ, ‘You owe Dr. Jill Biden an apology’
Dr. Biden would be the first first woman to proceed her personal skilled profession whereas within the White Home. “Dr. Biden will ship a message to so many ladies, not simply younger girls however to girls of their 40s, 50s and past that it’s OK to maintain working and that you’re not outlined by your partner,” stated Del Percio.
Kristen Welker moderating the last presidential debate
Brzezinski additionally touched on Welker’s historic second moderating the final presidential debate on Oct. 22, saying she was “spot on from begin to end.” Welker hoped that different younger girls and ladies who discovered one thing inspirational within the debate acknowledged it as a staff effort bolstered by many robust, supportive girls. “It was an actual sisterhood and helped me to seek out power in that second and ask questions on behalf of the American folks,” Welker stated.
In 2020, feminine voters turned as much as the polls to make an influence. In keeping with NBC Information exit polls, some 91 % of Black girls voted for Joe Biden, thanks partially to leaders like Stacey Abrams and LaTosha Brown, co-founder of the Black Voters Matter Fund.
“Black girls have been working to good this democracy, even earlier than they’d entry to the franchise with the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. They’ve been working to deliver a couple of freer and fairer America not just for themselves… however for his or her communities, this democracy, for this nation,” Haines stated. “What these Black girls know is that the way forward for the Senate can have an effect on their day by day lives, they usually vote with that in thoughts.”
Del Percio nodded to the facility of girls and specifically, girls of shade. “This can be a drive to be reckoned with,” she stated.
Top women in the fight against Covid-19
Within the battle in opposition to Covid-19, girls additionally confirmed up and made a giant distinction, particularly these in well being care. Sandra Lindsay, a Black nurse at a Queens hospital, turned the very first individual to be vaccinated within the U.S. The crucial care nurse wished to assist different girls and communities of shade who may be hesitant to get vaccinated.
Some 70 % of the world’s healthcare employees are girls, in accordance with the World Well being Group. “On this pandemic, girls have been frontline care takers as healthcare employees and at residence. Due to their better numbers as healthcare employees, additionally they make up 79 % of healthcare employees with Covid-19,” Dr. Bhadelia stated. “I can’t thank my fellow healthcare employees sufficient for working tirelessly these previous months to take care of our sufferers.”
Strides for women in the corporate world
Regardless of the financial disaster that emerged from the pandemic, this yr was additionally one the place range of feminine workers in company America improved. “Girls at the moment are working extra Fortune 500 firms than ever earlier than, and for the primary time in 20 years, all S&P 500 boards have at the least one lady,” Brzezinski stated.
In celebration of those nice milestones, Know Your Worth partnered with Forbes for a particular undertaking referred to as 50 over 50, to raise girls who’ve shattered age and gender norms, founding success later in life. Many of those girls are additionally paying it ahead to assist different girls.
RELATED: Nominate a woman for Know Your Value and Forbes’ 50 over 50 list HERE!
Whereas 2020 can be remembered for the trials and tribulations introduced on by Covid-19, it additionally marks the yr that ladies overcame formidable challenges and made constructive positive aspects by lifting one another up and setting the stage for a brighter yr forward.
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