In her concession speech almost a year ago today, Hillary Clinton said, “I know that we still have not shattered that highest and hardest glass ceiling. But someday someone will.” The glass ceiling refers to that upper limit in organizations that remains elusive or difficult for women to reach. While I think we are still bumping our heads on the glass ceiling of politics, these women in politics have taken it a bit further than it once was.
Victoria Woodhull
While she may not be a household name, Victoria Woodhull was a driving force in the American women’s right to vote in political elections. In 1871, she became the first female to address a congressional committee, where she stated that recent changes to the 14th and 15th amendments had already given women the right to vote.
The House Judiciary Committee she spoke before did not pass the proposed legislation, but she was still a trailblazer. She would go on to be a key figure in the U.S. suffrage movement.
Victoria Woodhull may have opened up the way for Hillary Clinton as Victoria was the first woman to run for U.S. President. Her campaign to run was officially announced in April of 1870, and her platform included:
- Women’s right to the political vote and equality
- Supporting an 8-hour workday
- Elimination of the death penalty
She was a candidate for the Equal Rights Party. While Ulysses S. Grant would take to the office instead, Woodhull was indeed pushing the limits of women in the political arena.
Shirley Chisholm
It was a historical moment when Shirley Chisholm was elected to the U.S. Congress. Why? She was the first African American woman to do so. The year was 1968.
She would go on to represent the 12th Congressional District of New York in the House of Representatives until 1983. This was a first that pushed the glass ceiling of politics.
The congresswoman was a strong supporter of equal education and human rights. She ultimately left Congress after 7 terms to teach instead.
This social activist would then go on to make a bit for the position of U.S. President in 1972, as a Democrat. She was the first black female candidate to do so on behalf of a major party and also the first women to run for the Democratic nomination for the top job as the American President.
Shirley Chisholm founded the Congressional Black Caucus, which represents black members of Congress. While she was well-known in the ’60s and ’70s, unfortunately, few people likely recognize her name today. Let’s not forget her achievements!
Sonia Sotomayor
Sonia Sotomayor is a trailblazer as the first Latina Supreme Court Justice in the United States. This historical event occurred in 2009; the then President Barack Obama nominated her.
This nomination was confirmed by a 68-31 vote. Sonia Sotomayor’s legal career began when she graduated from Yale and passed the bar in 1980, working as a U.s. District Court Judge, and then as a U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals Judge.
She also made history with groundbreaking Supreme Court rulings. The first historical decision was in 2015 for King v. Burwell, where she was one of six Justices who upheld a key part of the 2010 Affordable Care Act, in turn maintaining the government’s ability to continue giving subsidies to those in the use who bought health care through “exchanges.”
While in this position, Sonia Sotomayor is recognized for her passionate calls to change the criminal justice system, as well as speaking up on issues of gender, race, and ethnicity. She helped extend the glass ceiling of politics a bit further than before.
Geraldine Ferraro
She was affectionately nicknamed Gerry. Geraldine Ferraro was the first female of a major party to run for the vice presidential nomination in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The year was 1984, and she was running within the Democratic Party on the same ticket as Walter Mondale. She was a women’s rights activist, and there were few women at this point in U.S. Congress.
She was also the first Italian-American to run on the national ticket as part of a major party.
In the end, the Reagan-Bush ticket defeated the Mondale-Ferraro ticket in the 1984 election. But N.Y. Democrat Geraldine Ferraro went on to serve three terms in the House of Representatives.
When she ran for the Senate in 1998, this was her second time in six years to do so. When she failed again, it was also her last campaign. It is likely that her advancements made it easier for future women running for political positions.
Anita Hill
This activist, teacher, lawyer, and author is perhaps most widely recognized for her testimony against Clarence Thomas, a Supreme Court Justice. Anita Hill worked for him in the Office of Civil Rights, within the United States Department of Education, and also later on for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
When confirmation hearings occurred as part of the process of appointing Thomas to the Supreme Court, Anita Hill was called to court. It was there that she testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Anita Hill spoke before the court about Clarence Thomas sexually harassing her. The committee ultimately did not take her words into account toward its decision to appoint Thomas. But Hall’s televised testimony in 1991 was seen by people across America.
Today, this event is well known for opening up conversations about workplace inequality and discrimination. Amazingly, Hill never lost her cool during the grueling questioning for almost nine hours by 14 white U.S. senators.
Hillary Clinton
Like her or hate her, she had to make the list. Hillary Clinton pushed the glass ceiling of politics by running for the United States President twice – first in 2008 and then in 2016.
She became an essential in the Democratic party. But, you say, she lost both times.
Aha, but that’s not where the wins lay. It is instead that she was fearless about standing up to Congress Republicans and the Republican nominee.
And all this was in addition to her co-founding Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families. Not to mention that she was also the first woman to be a full partner at Rose Law Firm in Arkansas in the 1970’s.
And don’t forget Hillary Clinton’s accomplishments as U.S. First Lady (1993-2001) either. She was the first First Lady to suggest employers provide health-care coverage to their workers in 1993, for example.
And, in late 2000, she took office as a senator; she was the first First Lady to do so. Hillary Clinton, as the 67th U.S. Secretary of State, advanced the relations that Bush’s administration messed with and as a strong voice for women. She also advocates for the LGBT community.
Can we break the glass ceiling of politics?
Thank you to these female trailblazers and countless others! They’ve extended the glass ceiling of politics in the U.S. to enable women to take on more opportunities in this arena.
But, I still contend there is a glass ceiling. Female candidates still get judgement for how they look and the state of their marriage.
One person might think, heaven forbid she’s divorced, that won’t help her campaign. Of course this thought has nothing to do with her ability to lead. And perhaps all of those personal attacks on Hillary Clinton has made some women think twice about wanting to be a political candidate.
But we cannot stop continuing to try to break that glass ceiling of politics, ladies. U.S. politics developed over a long time and its structure is often simply taken for “it is what it is.”
I think instead that affirmative action can still make a difference over time and we must not stop these types of actions. Let’s encourage one another to go beyond what has been done before, as the women listed above have done, by producing campaigns that inspire girls to take on roles as confident leaders. This is a way to evoke change for the better!
Great article, but Hilary didn’t run in 1992, Bill did. She ran in 2008 and 2016.
Thanks for catching that, Tom! I’ve now updated the post accordingly.
I am humbled. Great work.
Having Trump in The White House is proof positive that hate is still too strong in America. When a person like Trump can get almost 30% of one race to vote for him, in spite of the hurtful things he has said and the hateful things he has done leaves me troubled. 30% of Americans ignored qualification and character. In the past HATE prevented people of color from being able to VOTE…and now HATE has prevented a more than qualified candidate from breaking the glass ceiling. I pray and keep hoping, Americans as a whole will grow up to our creed, and truly embrace the country we sing about.
Thank you for this!
love this!!
It’s true that the women’s deserves lot more but we must not forget moral and family values for healthy societies. I personally believe women rights issue is not a political issue it’s human rights issue and has been since Adam and Eve.
I am a big fan of your blogs!! I have read this one at least 5 times haha. I was wondering I could maybe write a post for your blog related to Women and Politics, like guest posting perhaps. I look forward to your reply. Thanks!
Yes, you’re welcome to submit a guest post idea. To do so, please head to the following link and scroll down to fill out the form. I’ll then email you back regarding your idea: https://whenwomeninspire.com/about/ :)
great inspirational post 1 Loved it .. would love if you would check out my political blog and give feedback
Great inspirational post, Christy! Let’s hope for many more women to step up and for many more posts just like this. Hugs! ❣
Fantastic post of tribute, inspiration, and empowerment! ♥
A most excellent post and tribute to some empowering women. May there be many more to come! :) xx
Inspiring post, Christy. I think young girls should be taught about these women as heroes, just as boys have their “sports heroes”.
Bravo for reminding us of these marvelous and brave women.
Thank you for your inspirational post. I loved seeing Anita Hill on this list. Although I did not agree with the outcome of her case, I admired her strength to stand up and speak up.
It’s inspirational for females of every country. We are and we will make our presence felt in every field. Nice one Christy
Well done, as always, Christy. The glass ceiling may have been cracked by these inspiring women, but unfortunately, our government is still pretty much an old boys’ club. I love to see women challenge this. I want a world for my granddaughters in which women are truly equal to men.
Great post as always Christy💐
I’m Canadian and I was depressed the whole day when Hilary lost.
Has it really been a year of hell?
Great list! I have every hope of seeing a woman elected to our country’s highest office, and sooner than later. When Hillary ran, the sexist comments were not surprising, but disappointing nonetheless.
Great post and I look forward to the day there is a female president of the USA. I am also glad to see the chains being broken at lower levels of society too. It may seem slow but I think it is happening in many less noticeable ways that keep building.
ADORE this post! I admire all of these women. I even got to design the costumes for a Showtime movie about Anita Hill (not Hall) and Clarence Thomas titled “Strange justice”
IMHO, Hillary should be the current president of the USA. TY, Christy!! Love these women’s articles here on WWI!
Well done, Christy. I need the inspiration. Hugs.
https://superduque777.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/torture-237×178.jpg
Nice inspirational and knowledgeable post
Superb postt!!! Inspirational, truly women inspire here..all the best.. Happy blogging
Hi Christy,
very motivation post. I love posts about brave people, and above mentioned women that definitely are ! Thank you
This is an inspirational read and I thoroughly enjoyed it Christy . :)
Thank you for your support here! I value you so much :)
you are very welcome . :)
:D <3