There are more American female politicians out there than ever before. That’s true for the rest of the world as well.
But, who are the top women in power? And, who are up and coming? Read on to find out.
Kamala Harris
Obviously, there’s no better place to start than with Madam Vice President-Elect, Kamala Harris.
At 56 years of age, she is a true force in politics. Since being elected to the office of Vice President alongside President-elect Joe Biden, she will be the first female VP of the United States and the highest-ranking female elected official in American history.
Her new position will also make her the first Black person and first South Asian person to serve as a U.S. Vice President.
She previously served as California’s Attorney General, and attended Howard University and University of California, Hastings.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
If you haven’t heard of AOC, you must be living under a rock. This congresswoman has taken the world by storm, along with the rest of the Squad. The Squad also includes Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, and Ayanna Pressley.
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Who could forget her groundbreaking speech when a fellow member of Congress (Ted Yoho) insulted her on the steps of Congress?
AOC supports Medicare for All, tuition-free public college, abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and canceling student debt, among many other liberal policies. She specifically supports all LGBTQ+ rights, including the rights of trans people.
She, along with Senator Ed Markey, introduced the Green New Deal as a bill in Congress, which has since been a topic of conversation all around the world. AOC is also a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.
She’s also a trailblazer on social media. Her recent Among Us stream on Twitch had over 400,000 viewers!
Rashida Tlaib
One of the first two Muslim women to ever be elected to the United States Congress (along with Illan Omar) Rashida Tlaib is yet another member of the Squad with AOC.
The daughter of Palestinian immigrants, Tlaib has worked in politics since way back in 2004. She previously served in the Michigan State Legislature. She supports Medicare For All, abortion rights, and abolishing ICE. Tlaib serves on the Committee on Financial Services and the Committee on Oversight and Reform.
Jacinda Ardern
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is the youngest woman ever to be elected head of government, and only the second head of government to give birth while in office, but that’s not all she’s done.
Ardern has been celebrated worldwide for her excellent response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been one of the most successful in the world. After the 2019 Christchurch shootings, she gained global attention for introducing stricter gun laws in short order.
Sahle-Work Zewde
The current President of Ethiopia is the first woman ever to be elected to the role. She previously served as Ethiopia’s ambassador to Senegal, Djibouti, and France.
She also served as Ethiopia’s representative to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. She continues to fight for gender equity in Ethiopia, along with environmental protection.
Tsai Ing-wen
The first female president of Taiwan (the Republic of China) made the Time Magazine’s Most Influential People’s list in 2020, and for good reason.
Tsai has fought for the rights of societally disadvantaged groups, including the LGBTQ+ community and indigenous people, throughout her time in politics. She studied at National Taiwan University, Cornell Law School, London School of Economics and Political Science, and the University of London.
Same-sex marriage was legalized in Taiwan under her leadership, just four years after it was legalized in the United States.
Mia Mottley
Mia Mottley has taken big structural change to a whole new level. The Barbados Prime Minister has announced plans to leave the Commonwealth of Nations and abolish the monarchy in Barbados!
She also plans to legalize same-sex unions in Barbados, which will also get rid of discriminatory laws that are still on the books.
Zuzana Čaputová
Slovakian President Čaputová is the youngest person ever elected as President of Slovakia. She’s a huge advocate for LGBTQ+ rights including adoption and same-sex partnerships.
She’s also focused on the fight against climate change, and plans to phase out coal mining in Slovakia in the next three years. She even received the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2016, before she was elected president.
She fights for initiatives to make the justice system more equitable, and wants to make some of Slovakia’s justice institutions publicly run.
Elizabeth Warren
Elizabeth Warren is a Massachusetts Senator who has been fighting for higher taxes on the rich for years.
She had humble beginnings in Oklahoma before studying at George Washington University, the University of Houston, and Rutgers. She taught at the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University. She was one of the first people to fight for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
She has served as a Massachusetts Senator in 2013, winning a record number of delegate votes for the nomination. She currently serves on the Senate Committee on Armed Services, the Special Committee on Aging, the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.
She may have lost the race for the 2020 Democratic Presidential nomination, but Elizabeth Warren is one to watch when it comes to famous female politicians.
Tammy Duckworth
This Senator from Illinois has an incredible backstory. She’s also a retired Army National Guard lieutenant colonel. She lost her legs while fighting in the Iraq War in 2004.
In 2016, when she was elected to the Senate, Duckworth became the first person with a disability to be elected. In 2018, she became the first senator to give birth while serving in the Senate.
She currently serves on the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and the Committee on Environment and Public Works. She supports gun control, healthcare, immigration reform, and abortion rights.
The Rise of Female Politicians
These high-ranking female politicians are making major inroads today. Thankfully, they’re the tip of the iceberg when it comes to amazing women in politics. There are incredible female politicians at all levels of government.
Representation matters, in politics and other matters, so the recent surge of female politicians is a heartening trend. It is also one that mirrors the increasing acceptance of women in leadership within the corporate realm.
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