The Year of the Woman was a popular label attached to 1992 after the election of a number of female senators in the United States.[1] The term has also been used with respect to the 2018 House elections, in which a record 103 women were elected, 90 of whom were Democrats.[2][3]
The hotly contested Senate confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas involving the allegations of Anita Hill raised the question of the dominance of men in the Senate.[1]
While Murray set out to raise the necessary funds, two other women several hundred miles to the south in California began work on their own Senate campaigns. As a result, on January 3, 1993, for the first time in American history, California became the first state in the nation to be represented in the Senate by two women. In the 1992 elections, Dianne Feinstein, a former Democratic mayor of San Francisco, running for the balance of an uncompleted term, beat her opponent with a margin of nearly two million votes, while Barbara Boxer—a 10-year veteran of the U.S. House of Representatives who had joined six of her Democratic women colleagues in a march on the Senate to urge greater attention to Anita Hill's charges—solidly won a full term.[1]
At a presidential debate at the University of Richmond, President George H. W. Bush was asked when his party might nominate a woman for President. Bush, noting that the women running that year were predominantly liberal Democrats, stated "This is supposed to be the year of the women in the Senate. Let's see how they do. I hope a lot of them lose."[4]
A week after the election, a popular Washington Post photograph illustrated the situation. Standing with exultant Democratic Majority LeaderGeorge Mitchell were not only Murray, Feinstein and Boxer but also Carol Moseley Braun of Illinois, the first black woman elected to the Senate. Never before had four women been elected to the Senate in a single election year. (Five, if Mikulski's successful re-election bid that year is counted.) Within months, another woman senator would join them: Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas, who won a special election in June 1993.[1]
When the newcomers joined incumbents Kassebaum and Mikulski in January 1993, headline-writers described the occurrence as "The Year of the Woman." In response, Senator Mikulski said, "Calling 1992 the Year of the Woman makes it sound like the Year of the Caribou or the Year of the Asparagus. We're not a fad, a fancy, or a year."[1] Mikulski predicted that, as more women joined the Senate, the novelty of a female senator would fade; as more women joined the Senate in the coming years, this prediction came true.[1]
^ abcdefgSenate Historical Office (2018), , Art & History, United States Senate, archived from the original on September 27, 2018, retrieved September 28, 2018
^Kamarck, Elaine (November 7, 2018). "2018: Another 'Year of the Woman'". Brookings. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
^"It was the Year of the Woman — but not on the Republican side". NBC News. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
^John T. Woolley; Gerhard Peters (October 15, 1992). "Presidential Debate at the University of Richmond". The American Presidency Project. Santa Barbara, California: The University of California (hosted), Gerhard Peters (database).
External linksedit
Adapted from Senate Website, a product of the US government
April 12, 2024
year, woman, confused, with, international, women, year, film, kelly, rowland, album, album, popular, label, attached, 1992, after, election, number, female, senators, united, states, term, also, been, used, with, respect, 2018, house, elections, which, record. Not to be confused with International Women s Year or Year of the Woman film For the Kelly Rowland album see Year of the Woman album The Year of the Woman was a popular label attached to 1992 after the election of a number of female senators in the United States 1 The term has also been used with respect to the 2018 House elections in which a record 103 women were elected 90 of whom were Democrats 2 3 The Senate Democratic women in 1993 L R Patty Murray Carol Moseley Braun Barbara Mikulski Dianne Feinstein and Barbara BoxerSenator Barbara Mikulski standing with female senatorial candidates left to right Carol Moseley Braun Jean Hall Lloyd Jones Barbara Boxer Dianne Feinstein and Lynn Yeakel at 1992 Democratic National Convention Madison Square Garden New York City Contents 1 Background 2 Election 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksBackground editThe hotly contested Senate confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas involving the allegations of Anita Hill raised the question of the dominance of men in the Senate 1 Election editIn 1991 the Senate included two female members but neither Nancy Kassebaum of Kansas nor Barbara Mikulski of Maryland served on the Judiciary Committee Reportedly Washington State senate member Patty Murray decided to run for election after watching these hearings 1 While Murray set out to raise the necessary funds two other women several hundred miles to the south in California began work on their own Senate campaigns As a result on January 3 1993 for the first time in American history California became the first state in the nation to be represented in the Senate by two women In the 1992 elections Dianne Feinstein a former Democratic mayor of San Francisco running for the balance of an uncompleted term beat her opponent with a margin of nearly two million votes while Barbara Boxer a 10 year veteran of the U S House of Representatives who had joined six of her Democratic women colleagues in a march on the Senate to urge greater attention to Anita Hill s charges solidly won a full term 1 At a presidential debate at the University of Richmond President George H W Bush was asked when his party might nominate a woman for President Bush noting that the women running that year were predominantly liberal Democrats stated This is supposed to be the year of the women in the Senate Let s see how they do I hope a lot of them lose 4 A week after the election a popular Washington Post photograph illustrated the situation Standing with exultant Democratic Majority Leader George Mitchell were not only Murray Feinstein and Boxer but also Carol Moseley Braun of Illinois the first black woman elected to the Senate Never before had four women been elected to the Senate in a single election year Five if Mikulski s successful re election bid that year is counted Within months another woman senator would join them Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas who won a special election in June 1993 1 When the newcomers joined incumbents Kassebaum and Mikulski in January 1993 headline writers described the occurrence as The Year of the Woman In response Senator Mikulski said Calling 1992 the Year of the Woman makes it sound like the Year of the Caribou or the Year of the Asparagus We re not a fad a fancy or a year 1 Mikulski predicted that as more women joined the Senate the novelty of a female senator would fade as more women joined the Senate in the coming years this prediction came true 1 See also editBlair Babe Women in the United States SenateReferences edit a b c d e f g Senate Historical Office 2018 Year of the Woman Art amp History United States Senate archived from the original on September 27 2018 retrieved September 28 2018 Kamarck Elaine November 7 2018 2018 Another Year of the Woman Brookings Retrieved September 30 2020 It was the Year of the Woman but not on the Republican side NBC News Retrieved October 1 2020 John T Woolley Gerhard Peters October 15 1992 Presidential Debate at the University of Richmond The American Presidency Project Santa Barbara California The University of California hosted Gerhard Peters database External links editAdapted from Senate Website a product of the US government Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Year of the Woman amp oldid 1182235303, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
