USA – Survey Finds Over l/2 of Women Voters Are Feminists
Author: Womens UN Report Network
Date: March 18, 2013
WUNRN
USA – STUDY FINDS OVER l/2 OF WOMEN
VOTERS SAY THEY ARE “FEMINISTS”
New
Study Finds More Than Half Of Female Voters Are Feminists
Elizabeth Plank– March 18, 2013
According to a
poll commissioned by Ms.
Magazine, the
palpable resurgence of feminism amongst female voters in the
increased by a full nine points since the last survey was conducted in 2008. As
it stands, 55% of female voters call themselves feminist, and the number is
even greater amongst young women. According to Ms. Magazine:
“Speaking of younger women [under the age of 30], a solid
majority of them (58 percent) identify as feminists — as did 54 percent of
older women, nearly three-quarters (72 percent) of Democratic women and a
respectable 38 percent of Republican women. The feminist factor cuts across
race and ethnic lines, with a majority of
themselves feminists.”
Moreover, the study found that women of color are more likely to
call themselves feminists. Almost three quarters of Latin-American women and
66% of African American female voters self-identify as feminists.
Moreover, feminist fever isn’t just affecting women; it’s tangible
amongst male voters too. The poll found that one in three male voters
self-identify as feminists.
The president of the FMF, Eleanor Smeal, explained that the survey results
highlight the significant and pivotal role of feminists as an interest group in
US politics:
“As we move forward after the elections of 2012, it’s time to
acknowledge that it wasn’t just women who made a critical different in
reelecting President Barack Obama, but feminists.
It’s time to add another metric beyond the gender gap to our post-election
analysis: the Feminist Factor.”
Many are expecting (hum hoping) that Hilary Clinton will run in
2016. As the probability of a female running for office becomes farther from
fantasy and closer to reality, will the feminist factor intensify? Can a
self-identified feminist presidential candidate make feminism totally
mainstream?
Categories: Releases
