There should be no discrimination against languages people speak, skin color, or religion." -Malala Yousafzai
The dividing factors of race and gender have greatly influenced the separation between different political parties. The 2008, 2012, and 2016 presidential elections strongly demonstrated and exposed an America of deep divisions on race, ethnicity, and gender. These divisions have widened the gap between Republicans and Democrats especially, as is clear through the tension we see so often today. This tension has made it increasingly difficult to have genuine, honest conversations between parties.
Hillary Clinton's Concession Speech"Last night, I congratulated Donald Trump and offered to work with him on behalf of our country. I hope that he will be a successful president for all Americans. This is not the outcome we wanted or we worked so hard for and I'm sorry that we did not win this election for the values we share and the vision we hold for our country. But I feel pride and gratitude for this wonderful campaign that we built together, this vast, diverse, creative, unruly, energized campaign. You represent the best of America and being your candidate has been one of the greatest honors of my life."
Barack Obama's Speech: "A More Perfect Union" |
From the 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, her famous concession speech marked the first time a candidate apologized. In 2010 was the 90th anniversary of the 19th Amendment which allowed women to vote and had an impact on women politicians.
Clinton, Hillary. "Concession Speech." 9 Nov. 2016. CNN. Speech. |
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The first Black president of America delivered a powerful speech. In his speech he indicated that the Constitution that had at its very core the ideal of equal citizenship under the law; a Constitution that promised its people liberty, justice, and a union that could be and should be perfected over time.
Click to see a transcript of the speech. Obama, Barack. "Barack Obama’s Speech on Race." 18 Mar. 2008, Philadelphia Speech. |
How Gender Influences Political Attitudes "In recent elections women have voted strongly Democratic. Why? Most observers believe that women think the Democrats more strongly support "women's issues," such as equal work, equal pay, and equal legal rights. Polls indicate that many issues about which women feel most strongly, such as education and health care, are more favorably addressed by the Democratic Party. Does this voting behavior mean that women are likely to vote for female candidates for office?" "What Factors Shape Political Attitudes." UShistory.org, Independence Hall Association, www.ushistory.org/gov/4b.asp. |
Women tended to vote Republican during the 1950's. By the 1960's, however, women increased their support toward the Democrats, and continue to do so today. This shift in loyalty could be attributed to the Democrats' focus on "women's issues" dealing with equality for all women. The Democratic Party has recently begun to emphasize issues such as equal work, pay, and legal rights, leading to an increase in feminist sentiment across the United States. |
Division Among Political Parties
The division among Republicans and Democrats has widened significantly since the last election, and has led conversations between the two disagreeing parties to become increasingly difficult. In the video above, a couple explains the success of their marriage despite having clearly different political views. This couple is an example to follow, as they are able to focus on qualities other than political views that they like about each other. This is often not how Americans approach conversing with the "other side", because of the hostility between the two parties. However, it is important to learn to communicate in a peaceful matter, in order to properly solve problems and create beneficial change.
"A House Divided: Marriage across Political Party Lines." Youtube, 13 Oct. 2016,
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yq9eM_MEWo0. Accessed 11 Jan. 2018.
"A House Divided: Marriage across Political Party Lines." Youtube, 13 Oct. 2016,
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yq9eM_MEWo0. Accessed 11 Jan. 2018.