Phyllis Schlafly (Accidentally) Gets Something Right: Everyone Should Recognize the Growing Power of Unmarried Women Voters
July 27th, 2010
Washington, DC–While stumping for Michigan politician Andrew “Rocky” Raczkowski, Phyllis Schlafly once again dipped into her poisoned well of rhetoric. Her target was unmarried women, and she returned to the tired old trope of welfare abuse. Ms. Schlafly said the only reason these women turned out to vote was because “when you kick your husband out, you gotta have Big Brother Government to be your provider.” Her comments are insulting to unmarried women and to the democratic process.
“Rather than denigrating American citizens for exercising their rights and doing their civic duty, we should be celebrating increased participation in our democracy,” said Page Gardner, president of Women’s Voices. Women Vote. “Ms. Schlafly, however, did inadvertently manage to stumble into one truth: the burgeoning political power of unmarried women,” continued Gardner.
Half of all American women are unmarried, and unmarried women are members of the Rising American Electorate, a group that also includes people of color and young voters between the ages of 18-29. Together, the RAE now represents 52% of voting eligible citizens. “Though members of the RAE had record turnout in the 2008 election, they are still underrepresented in both voter registration and turnout,” noted Gardner. “Our democracy functions best when more voices are part of the process; we must work to ensure that this growing segment of American society continues to make itself heard in 2010 and beyond.”
While a democratic system that is representative of the needs of all voters may be anathema to Phyllis Schlafly, our society only benefits when participation in our democracy is robust and our government is responsive to the needs of all of its citizenry. “Harnessing the power of the RAE is the key to advancing these principles and securing our future, rather than stifling participation, clinging to the past and promoting the politics of hate and division,” concluded Gardner.