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A WORD FROM OUR WRITING LEADER ANNA CERNICH

This issue will be released two days before International Women’s Day, a celebration that epitomizes our mission as members of Women In Politics. Approximately a year ago, the lives of girls and women just like me changed drastically as the pandemic rearranged our daily norms. I was frustrated, both politically and personally, by my inability to make a change. I felt there was little I could do as I watched both my nation’s health infrastructure and established civility gradually fall apart. Once I joined WIP, this changed. My first ever piece written for the magazine was an article detailing how female leadership had lessened the effect of Covid-19 in certain countries. Although I didn’t realize it at the time, that topic fit perfectly with the purpose of WIP as a whole: to empower female representation in current and future politics while acknowledging the achievements of those that have gone before us. As a writing leader, I’ve been given a platform, something to fall back on when these frustrations come to light. It is my hope that all members, readers, and followers of WIP can do the same.

I sit at my desk and write this editorial almost a year later, at a time of healing and restoration in America. It has been a long year for sure, but one that has brought us growth and personal development in the best of ways. As we honor women around the world, along with those who have shaped history, I want to acknowledge the value of everyone who is on their journey of self-discovery. May we all find our purpose and fulfill it to the best of our ability. Together, we can change the world. On behalf of everyone here at Women In Politics, Happy International Women’s Day to you!

Anna Cernich

TABLE of

Fighting for Change: The First Wave of Feminism

Sara Keegan

contents

Women in Climate Activism

Andrea Chow

8 13 15 18

Vaccinating America

Anna Pabst

Lily Veits

Coup

Ella Stillion-Southard

Biden’s COVID Relief Bill: A Light at the End of the Tunnel?

Young Girls Who Complete The Women’s Movement

Cedar Roach

Women

Politics

March

2021

Issue

Impeachment Trial

Stella Kleinman

tell the World about Russia

Know About Myanmar’s

Age is Just a Number - The

Trump's Second

What Protests for Navalny

Everything You Need to

Gracie Ruane

You're Fired:

Fighting for Change

The First Wave of Feminism BY: SARA KEEGAN

During this time of celebration for International Women's Day, we must not forget to acknowledge and appreciate those who have paved the way for women’s rights. These pioneers voiced their opinions when they were met with silence, devising a roar of advocacy that would lead to proper freedom and societal change. When observing Feminist history, it can be divided into three distinct waves, all advocating for different rights. As many would agree, the first wave of feminism was the most challenging. Women at the time were expected to be obedient to their husbands, keeping quiet while caring for the home and nurturing their children. However, powerful women such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and Lucretia Mott changed this notion. They fought against societal norms, advocating for a right that had never been given to women: the right to vote.

The first wave of feminism began shortly after the industrialist movement; women felt as though it was time for them to speak up and fight for equality. The main priority of this wave was to gain women's suffrage while also advocating for more opportunities in the workforce. The fight for equality is said to have officially started at the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848, when a total of three hundred men and women came together to discuss their purpose and what they needed to advocate for. The two leaders of the convention, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott, were extremely vocal about what was most important to the emerging feminist movement. On one of the last days of the convention, Stanton drafted the Seneca Falls Declaration, outlining the movement’s beliefs and calls for equality. Though not met with welcome arms by many male legislators, it was a large step in the right direction for women as a whole. Their voice had been seen and heard, and this was just the beginning.

Though Elizabeth Cady Stanton felt the convention was helpful and showed great promise, she knew more had to be done in order for society’s innate stereotypes to change. Thus, with female activist Susan B. Anthony, they formed the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA). This organization would work for women's suffrage on the federal level, while also pressing for other institutional changes deemed unjust or unequal. However, there was another emerging women’s association at the time, entitled the American Woman Suffrage Association. Founded by Lucy Stone, Henry Blackwell, and Julia Ward Howe, this association had extremely similar goals to the NWSA. During the time of existence for both organizations, tension could be felt. Both were doing such similar things and had quite intricate goals, it was nearly impossible for them to not get in the way

As the feminist movement grew larger in both size and voice, there became an abundance of pressure on the government to ratify a new amendment that would give women the right to vote. NAWSA had developed a “Winning Plan,” which was an intricate attempt to collect the energy of the organization and give it to the government and legislators, influencing them to support the amendment and ratify it. This plan worked, as Woodrow Wilson officially announced his support behind what was to be known as the Nineteenth Amendment. Ratified by the 36 states and Congress in June of 1919, the amendment was officially added to the U.S. Constitution on August 26, 1920. This marked a historic date in our nation’s history. After 72 years of women being withheld from the right to vote and participate in the nation’s government, they had finally received what they deserved.

of each other. So, in 1890, the two main organizations decided to unify, creating the National American Woman Suffrage Association. This unification was wildly successful, expanding its influence globally and inspiring other women to join.

On International Women’s Day, we, as a nation, must take a step back and remember those who have fought to get us where we are today. Without them, society and its culture would have been entirely different, women likely remaining far inferior to men. However, due to pioneers like Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, and Susan B. Anthony, we stand here today with a female Vice President, female business leaders across

the nation, and a promising generation of young women that will surely make them proud.

Saving Mother Earth BY: ANDREA CHOW

THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE ECOFEMINIST MOVEMENT Is it hot in here, or is it just me? No, it’s pretty warm. And it’s getting warmer every year. For decades, the global average temperatures have been rising - and that’s not all. Forests fall, sea levels rise, glaciers melt, and wildfires blaze. Our planet is facing a crisis of immense proportions. Through the human efforts to slow (and ultimately stop) this progression towards the climate apocalypse, women have borne the brunt and led the insurgency. The Center for Women’s Land Rights writes, “For girls, land rights mean better nutrition, healthcare, access to education, and delayed marriage. For women, land rights [mean] a more equal power within the home and community, and [the] ability to realize economic opportunity and legal rights. For everyone, regardless of gender, stronger rights for women and girls means more prosperity, peace, and sustainability.” Women and environmental activism have always been inextricably linked and will continue to overlap far into the future.

On an abstract level, theorists argue that destruction of the planet and subjugation of women’s bodies are parallel forms of oppression. The same hierarchies of dominance exhibit themselves in different forms, such as the patriarchy and endless resource extraction driven by capitalism—an assault against the Earth replicates itself in assaults against women, and vice versa. The United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner writes that “Prevailing gender inequalities both in public and private spheres, undermine women’s exercise of their rights to land, property, and housing. Multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination against women as well as LGBTI persons amplify such inequalities. Certain global trends – such as commodification and financialization of land, climate change, and environmental degradation and urbanization – are exacerbating pressure on land and the natural resources, housing and livestock attached to it.” For women’s liberation to be fully realized, humanity must free the planet we live on (and its

climate) from the violence of destruction. This principle is called Ecofeminist theory, and it has been practiced all over the world for centuries.

The Ecofeminist movement historically has been led by women of color in colonized nations. Black, Indigenous, and marginalized women experience the forces of oppression the hardest; they fight back against it the hardest, as well. Rosena Maldonado, an Otomi Indigenous woman from Veracruz, Mexico, states that “As indigenous women, we have a connection with Mother Earth and the understanding that Mother Earth is not ours; we belong to the earth. We care for and protect everything that exists in her, including trees, materials, and minerals the Earth produces; [this is the only way] we can continue living.”Women have led countless smaller movements within the Ecofeminist movement throughout history. In 1973, the Chipko Movement in India, covered by a prominent female author and activist, Vandana Shiva, rallied women to wrap themselves around trees to conserve the forests and oppose the colonial deforestation policies. In 1977, the Green Belt Movement, established by Professor Wangari Maathai, mobilized indigenous women in Nairobi, Kenya, for self-determination and environmental conservation. In 2016, #NoDAPL in the United States, led by Brenda White Bull, fought to protect water, land, and sacred sites. This list is not exhaustive. Other prominent women in environmental activism include Rachel Carson, Jane Goodall, Mei Ng, and Maria Cherkasova. Decades of mobilization lay the groundwork for an optimistic future of environmentalism.

The next generation of women in environmental activism gains traction with each passing day. Of course, the prominent Swedish activist Greta Thunberg spearheaded the School Strike for Climate Change in 2018. But she is not alone. In the future, the movement seeks to center Black and Indigenous voices, such as that of India Logan-Riley, who focuses on Indigenous rights in conservation in Aotearoa (colonized as New Zealand), Nakabuye Hilde Flavia, who speaks out against climate change and pollution in Uganda. These girls and young women draw inspiration from their Ecofeminist predecessors while blazing their trails in an increasingly hostile climate (literally).

The United Nations writes that “involving women in protecting the environment would help societies develop the sense of responsibility needed to maintain a good balance between humans and the earth’s resources.” Destruction of the planet unfolds on levels of culture, class, race, ethnicity, age, ability, and most especially, gender. And women will be the ones to rail against it.

You’re Fired: Trump’s Second Impeachment Trial BY: STELLA KLEINMAN

6 th OF JANUARY 5 DEATHS 4 YEAR TERM 3 PRESIDENT IMPEACHED 2 IMPEACHMENT OF TRUMP OF A PRESIDENT WHO WAS 1 TRIAL LEFT OFFICE On January 6th, 2021, an armed mob stormed the US capitol. One week later, the House of Representatives charged Donald Trump with “incitement of insurrection.” They accused him of personally instigating the insurrection, which has been deemed an event of domestic terrorism.The Constitution states that impeachment requires a majority vote in the House, while conviction requires a

⅔ vote in the

Senate. Democrats currently have a majority in the House and Senate, the latter due to Vice President Kamala Harris’s vote as tie-breaker. The House impeached Trump on January 13th, with a 232-197 vote. This is his second impeachment and is both historic and controversial. Trump is America’s first president to be impeached twice and the first to face a trial after leaving office, causing Republicans, such as Lindsey Graham, to question the trial’s constitutionality. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer led Congress to see the impeachment process through to the end. On the Senate floor, he stated “We all want to put this awful chapter in our nation's history behind us, but healing and unity will only come if there is truth and accountability. And that is what this trial will provide.”

Shumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell agreed to delay Trump’s trial until February 9th, two weeks

The next day saw numerous

later than its original start date. The

arguments over the substance of

delay was expected; it allowed the

the insurrection charge. The House

Biden Administration a chance to

impeachment managers

settle in and provided Trump’s legal

(prosecuting side) used a timeline of

team with extra time to prepare.

public reports, tweets, and recordings to show senators (and

The trial began with constitutional

the American public) how Trump

arguments. Analysts agree that on

propagated the impactful lie that

the first day, the House Impeachment

the 2020 election was stolen and

managers outperformed Trump’s

urged his supporters to storm the

defense attorneys, and the debate

capitol to demand change.

resulted in a 56-44 vote allowing the trial to proceed. Each side was

The prosecution also revealed,

granted a total of 16 hours to argue

through heartbreaking footage, how

their case.

close the mob came to reaching politicians and the severity of their intentions. They asked for an explanation for Trump’s lack of divisive attempts to stop the insurrection on January 6th. Many Republican senators turned away from the presentation. Trump’s lawyers called the impeachment case an act of “political vengeance” and alleged that Trump’s words prior to the riot were “ordinary political rhetoric.” They did not answer questions regarding Trump’s actions while the violence was occuring, rather they expressed that political speech should be protected and argued that the mob was acting independently from Trump.

6 8

Confident that they had enough republican votes to acquit Trump, the defense team only used about 3

On February 12th, senators were able to question both sides. Most senators posed questions to their own sides. The questions generally focused on the legitimacy of the impeachment proceedings, political rhetoric, and Trump’s actions during the event.

Following the Q&A period, the Senate voted to award Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman the Congressional Medal for bravely and strategically leading the mob away from the Senate chamber. The Democrats agreed not to call witnesses because they believed they had sufficient evidence of incitement and drama over calling witnesses could have upended the Senate’s schedule.

This decision brought a swift end to the trial, which unsurprisingly acquitted former president Trump with a 57-43 vote. 7 Republican senators voted to convict, the most bipartisan margin in American history. This verdict will allow Trump to run for office again and empowers his supporters. Democrats in Congress quickly condemned the vote and turned their attention towards President Biden’s ambitious agenda. The insurrection and Trump’s second impeachment have revealed the fragility of American democracy and set the precedent that an outgoing president can still be challenged.

BY: ANNA PABST

It has now been over a year since the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in the United States. During the span of the pandemic, the United States has seen a change in administration, from Trump to Biden. Over the leadership of two different administrations, there have been various methods and programs instilled to help America recover from the devastating effects of the pandemic. These two administrations have had different approaches at combating the crisis, which has led us to the present day where vaccine rollout has begun.

involved the promise that the US would buy their vaccine if proven successful and safe. Part of the accelerated process outlined by Operation Warpspeed was that vaccines would be manufactured while still in trial phases, so that if they succeed, there would be a supply already building to administer to the public. So far, two companies have announced positive results and have been approved in the US: Moderna and Pfizer.

One large part of the Trump administration’s plan to combat COVID was known as Operation Warpspeed. Operation Warpspeed aimed to accelerate the vaccine testing and manufacturing process in order to administer vaccines in a shorter span of time. Under Operation Warpspeed, varying deals with different vaccine companies were made. Some of the deals included funding for clinical trials, while some

During Biden’s campaign, he promised 100 million people would receive vaccines within his first 100 days in office. For this to be accomplished, an average of 1 million vaccines must be administered to new people every day. As of March 2nd, 1.94 million vaccines were being distributed daily (according to a seven day average). This average shows quite a lot of growth from the initial average of 277,000 thousand during the first week of distribution.

In order to ramp up vaccination, the American Rescue Plan, Biden’s 1.9 trillion dollar COVID relief bill, allocates $20 billion to develop a national vaccination program. Parts of this program would involve working with different region’s local governments to open community vaccination centers across the country as well as sending mobile vaccination sites to access rural communities. One other obstacle that the Biden administration addresses is the cost of vaccination: in order to make vaccination an option for everyone, regardless of income and immigration status, the administration aims to make the vaccine free of charge. One way this will be accomplished is by coordinating with Congress to expand Medicaid coverage to cover the whole cost of vaccination.

As Biden’s 100th day nears, and national vaccination

After almost a year of

progresses on course, comes the issue of maintaining

intermittent stay-at-home

this pace. Along with the actions needed to be taken

orders, business and school

to establish vaccination sites accessible to all people,

closures, social distancing, and

especially people residing in harder to reach

masks, we are beginning to see

communities, are actions necessary to build confidence in the vaccines. With over a quarter of urban residents (26%) and over a third of rural residents (35%) saying that they’ll either definitely not

the end of the tunnel. The final stages in the transition to normalcy will be slow. The vaccines take a few weeks to be

get vaccinated or they will likely not get vaccinated, a

fully active, and it will take even

challenge in vaccination we are yet to face head on is

longer for us to reach the herd

ourselves. The goal of vaccination is eventual “herd immunity,” where a large enough portion of the population has developed the ability to be protected against the illness through developing antibodies. The herd immunity threshold for COVID-19 is not yet known, but researchers have estimated a vague 10-70 percent. The herd immunity threshold for the SARS epidemic of 2002/3 was just above 70 percent, which could loosely indicate the threshold for the COVID-19

immunity threshold for vaccinations. On an individual level, social distancing and masks are still advised even if you are vaccinated, in order to protect the welfare of others who have not yet been vaccinated. The past year has been trying: emotionally,

virus as they are both coronaviruses. One contributing

economically and physically for

factor to the difference in attitude towards the

those who have contracted the

vaccine might be the extent of COVID-19’s impact on different communities. Urban areas see higher infection rates, while the lower population density of more rural areas causes these regions to see lower rates of transmission, and with that, a lower amount of severe cases.

virus. Vaccine rollout brings hope that we will be able to return to a new post-covid

version of normal.

What Protests for Navalny tell the World about Russia BY: LILY VEITS

In March of 2018, former Russian intelligence agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia are found in critical condition on an unassuming park bench in England. Eventually, the Skripnals recover; a few months later, two British civilians fall victim to the same neurotoxin. After coming into contact with a perfume bottle used to transport the agent, one woman is left dead.

For most of the global public, this is the first time the name Novichok made an appearance. With its name literally translating to “newcomer” in Russian, novichok is used to describe a class of nerve agents developed by the former Soviet Union in the late 20th century. A large dose can lead to death by asphyxiation, and relatively little information is available as to how exactly the toxins operate thanks to the secrecy with which they were developed.

This wasn’t the end of high-profile assassination attempts utilizing Novichok. In August of 2020, outspoken anti corruption activist and lawyer Alexei Navalny is dosed with Novichok on a flight to Moscow. Navalny was immediately transported to a Russian hospital after the pilot made an emergency landing; the hospital began treating him for suspected poisoning. Initially, chief toxicologist Alexander Sabaev followed his instincts and commented that his colleagues agreed-treating Navalny as one would treat other poisoning victims seemed like the way forward.

Later, Sabaev’s opinion changes: “As a toxicologist I am sure. There was no Novichok

there.”

Russia lab results came back conclusive-that Navalny had not been poisoned, and that his suffering was some variation of a metabolic disorder. And this is not necessarily a fault of the Russian doctors; one of the components that makes Novichok so deadly is just how many different forms it can take. And even if medical professionals did have access to confirmation on the specific structure of these nerve agents, much more valuable information remains secret. Navalny was transported to Berlin for humanitarian reasons, where he continued to receive treatment from a hospital in Germany. Despite the Russian government's firm maintenance of it’s innocence in the attack, former German ambassador to Russia Rüdiger von Fritsch commented that “For more than three weeks now we have been in a situation where Russia does not help in any way in the investigation, but only puts forward accusations in reply ... The one who stole himself then shouts very loudly, pointing in the other direction…”Generally, Putin avoids calling poison victim Alexei Navalny by name when making public statements; instead, the Russian leader references the ever-famous “patient from the Berlin clinic” when asked about the situation. It’s reminiscent of when Clinton referenced Monica Lewinsky as “that woman”, and begs the question as to why political leaders subconsciously try to distance themselves from those they have been accused of harming.

Navalny has been arrested and jailed prior to his return to Russia; while nobody was surprised by his detention, the scale of protests has shocked Russian authorities and the international community.It’s estimated that over 10,000 arrests have been made of Russian civilians participating in the nationwide protests against Navalny’s sentence. Once it became evident that the police crackdown was not going to ease up anytime soon, Navalny’s team has encouraged Russians to show solidarity by waving phone flashlights-in the hope that riot police will leave them alone.

Allies of any opposition figures have been handled brutally, even in a state that makes few qualms about it’s attitude towards political dissent. In a desperate effort to continue raising awareness for a brutal authoritarian crackdown, women formed human chains by linking arms along Old Arbat Street. Female political dissidents are subject to particular brutality, often of a sexual nature, under any oppressive regime. Some of the female protestors held up images of women serving prison sentences as a consequence for political expression that varied from Putin’s approved messaging. Navalny is a symptom of one of the widening cracks in Putin’s strict regime. His detention and obviously skewed trial has summoned Russian citizens from all walks of life to stand in solidarity; despite police brutality, the underlying swell of rage does not seem to be quelled.

When Klochkova, a female protestor, asked by reporters if she

was

demonstrate, she replied simply

afraid

that

has not felt afraid in a long

“If we allow fear to take over, then the government will crush us. We must fight for our freedom because it won't just be handed to us.”

was to

she

time.

Everything You Need to Know About Myanmar's Coup BY: ELLA STILLION-SOUTHARD

If you have been knee-deep in U.S news regarding Texas freezing over and the aftermath of the second impeachment trial of former president Donald Trump, then keeping up with international news may not be your top priority at the moment. However, if there is one foreign nation you should be paying attention to, it’s Myanmar.

From 1962-1974, the military ruled directly, but from 1974-1988, Ne Win declared himself the leader of the Burma Socialist Party and dictator of Myanmar. In 2011, after an election, the military state was dissolved and a civilian

The country of Myanmar, also known as Burma,

government was put into place.

is located in Southeast Asia, neighboring China, Laos, and Bangladesh. After the nation declared independence from Britain in 1948, a constitutional government was established, with U Nu as the first prime minister. During Nu’s democratic rule, instability and ethnic conflicts prevailed, which caused the AntiFacist People’s Freedom League (AFPFL) to threaten to provoke a coup d’etat. In response, Prime Minister Nu invited the military to form a “caretaker government” led by General Ne Win. Briefly, this “caretaker government” was bureaucratically efficient and orderly, but after more policy gridlock and a plummeting economy from Nu’s government, General Win led a successful coup in 1962. The military state suspended the government and constitution and appointed a council to rule Myanmar.

Why does this matter in 2021? Myanmar has experienced another successful coup orchestrated by the military. On February 1st, after the National League for Democracy (NLD) party won regional and federal parliament seats by a large margin, the military overthrew the government while parliament was convening for the new session. The Tatmadaw, the Myanmar armed forces, claims that the election results are fraudulent and that Aung San Suu Kyi, president of the NLD, interfered with the results with illegally imported walkie talkies.

Aung San Suu Kyi was a significant leader in transitioning from military rule to civilian rule in the 2010s and was the State Counsellor of Myanmar from 2016 until the coup in 2021. Although she is the president of the NLD, former State Counsellor Kyi committed several undemocratic acts while in power. For example, she did not condemn the persecution of the Rohingya people, a Muslim ethnic minority in Myanmar, and did not attempt to mediate the Rakhine State riots, several conflicts between the Rohingya people and Rakhine Buddhists. Additionally, after two journalists were arrested for reporting on the Rohingya ethnic cleansing, she allegedly called them “traitors” to Myanmar. All of this to say, Suu Kyi is the more “democratic” person in this narrative, but in reality, there is no real “good guy” to root for in this situation.

After the military took control over

Nations around the world have expressed

the government, Aung San Suu Kyi

solidarity with the people of Myanmar. The

was detained and placed under

United States has imposed sanctions on

house arrest on fraudulent charges.

the main military leaders who conducted

Taking over Suu Kyi’s position of

the coup, as well as their families and

power is Min Aung Hlaing,

business interests, and freezed millions of

Commander-in-Chief of the

Myanmarian funds being held in the United

Tatmadaw. According to the BBC,

States. India has also expressed wishes of

the Tatmadaw has declared a year-

a democratic transition, but also opposed

long “state of emergency” over

the U.S’s sanctions, hoping to sustain their

Myanmar, and plans on holding an

security relationship with the Tatmadaw.

actual “‘free and fair’ election” in the

Another one of Myanmar’s neighbors,

future.

China, seems slightly indifferent on this

In response, the Myanmarians have

issue, saying that they are hoping that “all

been protesting for weeks to save

parties in Myanmar will properly handle

their democracy and release Suu Kyi.

their differences...to maintain political and

As of February 20th, three protestors

social stability”. To combat Myanmar’s

have died at the hands of the police

military authoritarianism, the global

using live ammunition, and thousands

community needs to unite behind

of other protestors have been met

democracy. While international

with the tear gas, water cannons,

governments hold most of the responsibility

and rubber bullets.

to act against the coup, it is the citizenry’s

job, (you!), to stay informed and keep the dialogue going on such pressing issues.

BIDEN’S COVID RELIEF BILL: A Light at the End of the Tunnel? BY: GRACIE RUANE

It has been over one year. On February 3, 2020, the United States declared a public health emergency as the COVID-19 pandemic began to ravage the globe. Since then, 27,542,421 Americans have tested positive for coronavirus. 485,070 Americans have died. These numbers continue to rise by the thousands daily. These numbers are undoubtedly devastating, and it is no secret that the devastation did not end there. Given that the virus is highly contagious, various stay-

As a result, more than 10 million Americans are unemployed. As a result of this devastating increase in unemployment claims, 14 million renters are behind on payments, and 29 million adults - and at least 8 million children are experiencing devastating food insecurity.

at-home orders were issued state by state, some being more strictly enforced than others. As a result, the United States economy began to suffer. As of August 9, 2020, the average daily revenue was down by 47.5% in the leisure and hospitality sector, 16.4% in the education and health services sector, and 14.1% in the retail and transportation sector.

I, myself, have never been good with numbers, so I cannot tell you exactly what these numbers mean. What I can tell you is that our country needs help, and has needed help for quite some time. So, the country is then faced with one very ambiguous question: what’s next? Where do we go from here?

Additionally, aggregate small business revenue has fallen by 19.1%.

On January 20, 2021, a beacon of light shone down upon the American people as newly-elected President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were sworn into office, officially setting the transfer of power from the Trump Administration to the Biden Administration into motion. Granted that the foundation of Biden’s presidential campaign consisted mainly of COVID relief, Americans waited with baited breath to see what was next for them. Would this new administration come to their aid, or would they be forced to fend for themselves with no end to the pandemic in sight?

President Biden’s COVID-19 plan of attack has been released, and there is certainly a lot to unpack within its 200 pages. Here are the main takeaways: the Biden Administration plans to scale up testing sites and rapid test kits, increase the supply of vaccines to be available to the general public (with vaccines being readily available nationwide by the end of July), he plans to introduce a 1.9 trillion dollar stimulus package, create a COVID task force, and rejoin the World Health Organization. While these solutions are certainly a step in the right direction, the question then becomes not only is this enough, but is this plan (in its entirety) possible?

Time and time again, we have seen an incredible divide between Democratic and Republican Senators/Representatives when it comes to COVID relief efforts, particularly with the valuation of stimulus checks. While President Biden proposes a 1.9 trillion stimulus package, will this metric withstand heated debates both in the Senate and the House of Representatives? The story remains the same: Democrats advocate for more, Republicans advocate for less. When delving into why Republican representatives are so hesitant to support a significant payout to the American people, the problem becomes not what the country has to give, but what the country has to give that Republican representatives are willing to give. As the country continues to suffer from the devastating effects of the pandemic, one begins to wonder how Republicans can put a price tag on the health and livelihood of the American people.

As President Biden has consistently maintained, the road to recovery is becoming continuously more clear, but there is still a long road ahead to achieve full normalcy. During President Biden’s first presidential town hall on Tuesday night, President Biden estimated the country will be back to “normal” by Christmas of 2021 (assuming Americans do their part in stopping the spread of the deadly pandemic by continuing to wear a mask, stay home, distance themselves from others, and get vaccinated when possible). While this appears all bright and shiny at first glance, it is important to consider that each individual American’s definition of “normal” is unique, and that some elements of “normalcy” should not return. After all, the pandemic did not create the systemic inequities that currently exist in our country; it simply exacerbated each issue. Thus, the “fixing” of the pandemic will not fix issues of unemployment, it will not fix issues of food insecurity in areas that suffer from severe disinvestment, it will not fix issues of staggering evictions rates.

It is no secret that Biden’s plan of attack to achieve sustainable, effective COVID relief is a significant improvement from the efforts of the Trump administration, but this romanticism of a return to “normalcy” cloaks the reality of the problems at hand: the pandemic is not entirely responsible for the inequities that exist across all facets of American systems. Thus, Biden’s plan equates to putting a band-aid over the bullethole of inequity in America. So, now that we’ve bandaged the wound, when and where does the actual triage begin?

Age Is Just A Number- The Young Girls Who Complete the Women’s Movement BY CEDAR ROACH This year, the theme for International Women’s Day is #choosetochallenge- chosen with the intent of encouraging everyone to challenge the inequality women face across the globe. The theme highlights the fact that people from all walks of life—regardless of gender, race, or sexual orientation—can take steps to remove gender bias. However, it also seeks to acknowledge the incredible accomplishments that women have already taken to make the world a more equal place. Here are just a few of the amazing young activists whose achievements serve as an inspiration to all this month.

Malala Yousafzai

Marley Dias

“IF ONE MAN CAN DESTROY EVERYTHING, WHY CAN'T ONE GIRL CHANGE IT?”

“BLACK GIRL STORIES AREN'T JUST FOR BLACK GIRLS: THEY'RE FOR EVERYBODY.”

No list of world-changing young women would be complete without Malala Yousafzai. Over the past several years, she has gained notoriety all around the globe for her work as an education activist in Pakistan. Since 2012, Malala has worked tirelessly for the 130 million girls out of school, fighting to provide them with access to education. At the age of 17, her work with the Malala Fund made her the youngest ever recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. Malala certainly fits with the

Like Malala Yousafzai, Marley Dias knows the importance of education. From a young age, she loved to learn, write, and most of all, she loved to read. However, she also felt the clear lack of diversity in the stories she read as very few ever featured a Black female lead. At age 13, she created a solution to her problem, when Dias founded #1000blackgirlbooks. Her campaign had a modest goal, aiming to collect 1000 books with Black female leads, but after gaining national attention, Dias has collected thousands of books to donate. Her platform has brought her to speak at women’s conferences,

theme of this year’s International Women’s

host a Netflix show, and write her own book,

Day and her efforts to challenge the gap

always highlighting the lack of diversity in

in education deserve to be celebrated.

literature. Despite being only 16 now, Dias has

managed to challenge the inequality in literature over the last several years.

Thandiwe Abdullah

“WHEN WE MARCH FOR SISTERHOOD, LET'S TRULY MARCH FOR ALL OUR SISTERS.”

Greta Thunberg

“WE SHOWED THAT WE ARE UNITED AND THAT WE, YOUNG PEOPLE, ARE UNSTOPPABLE.”

Activism quite literally runs through Thandiwe Abdullah’s veins. She comes from

In 2018, Greta Thunberg sat alone outside

a family full of activists and attended her

the Swedish Parliament building. For months,

first protest at only 2 years old. As she’s

she sat alone with a sign reading “School

grown older, Abdullah has continued the

Strike for Climate.” While Greta may have

legacy of her family’s fight for equality, co-

begun her strike alone, by 2019 she had

founding the Black Lives Matter Youth

millions of people joining her demonstration.

Vanguard. At 15, she helped launch the

At 17 years old, Greta Thunberg had met with

Black Lives Matter in Schools campaign,

dignitaries from around the globe, attended

which was adopted by the National

U.N, summits, and become TIME Magazine’s

Education Association. She fought policies

Person of the Year—all with the goal of

in her city of Los Angeles, CA, and

bringing attention to the planet’s worsening

successfully persuaded city officials to

climate crisis. Her work has inspired many,

allocate $25 million in funds to lower-

bringing 4 million individuals to join her

income, historically Black public schools.

school strike on September 20th, 2019, the

Her work has been vital in creating an

largest climate demonstration in history.

atmosphere for serious discussions on

“Thunberg's broken barriers and stereotypes

safely addressing racism and

to catch the attention of the globe and

microaggressions within school settings.

inspire a greater fight for environmental change”

Oftentimes young women are overlooked for their accomplishments, not simply for their gender, but for their age as well. However, these 4 girls show us that age does not have to stop you from challenging the inequality you see. This month, as we reflect on the accomplishments of women who #choosetochallenge, let us not forget the young women who fight discrimination and that we are the future of the women’s movement.

Founder and Co-Exec. Director

Rebecca Joseph

Walnut Creek, CA | 15 years old My name is Rebecca Joseph and I am a highschool sophomore from the Bay Area. I got interested in politics during my first year of high school where I joined the Speech and Debate team. From there I fell in love with the world of politics, but soon became aware of the lack of representation women were getting in the field. I wanted to be part of a community of teens who want to support each other and the younger generation to pursue a career in politics; however, I was unable to find anything, so I started Women In Politics. Now, four months later I have been blessed with an amazing team and I cannot wait for all we are going to accomplish.

Please enjoy this issue!

Co-Exec. Director Katherine Bronov

Philadelphia, PA | 17 years old My name is Katherine Bronov and I am an online high school senior from the suburbs of Philadelphia, PA. I have been passionate about politics since the start of high school and I have searched for organizations and clubs that interest me but found nothing until Women In Politics (WIP) caught my eye. WIP is a very special organization and fascinatingly the first of its kind. I am so grateful to be a part of this team and work alongside girls that are just as enthusiastic about politics as I am and recognize the shortage of women in this important field. Please enjoy this issue!

Editor Leader

Lily Sun

San Ramon, CA | 16 years old

Magazine Design Leader

Isabella Pang

Long Island, NY | 16 years old

Kashish Singh | Sara Keegan | Jessica Salazar Katherine B | Rebecca Joseph

SRETIRW

Kansas City, MI | 16 years old

SROTIDE

Anna Cernich

SRENGISED

Writing Leader