The Root Cause and Addressing It
What is the root cause this project aims to address?
The root cause of my issue is that when women run for different positions in government, they often face criticism from the media and voters. Commentators often deem female candidates as unqualified, incompetent, and lacking in leadership ability. These negative comments then cause women to refrain from running for political positions, leaving men to have a greater say in government decisions and policies. This then causes a gender imbalance in government institutions, which ultimately affects the legitimacy of how the government runs. According to CWAP (Center for American Women and Politics) and the World Economic Forum, only 28% of women hold seats in Congress, although they make up 50% of the population. Additionally, refraining from political position perpetuates the cycle of low female representation. Young girls cannot and will not envision themselves in leadership positions, if they are not actively being exposed to racially diverse female candidates who they can see themselves in or reflect them. Without more females representation in government and leadership positions , the gender gap will continue to widen and women’s representation will continue to decrease.
Instead of refraining from participation in politics due to criticism, I wanted to use my project to reframe and shift the perception of negative comments by paying homage to those who have made a difference. The Walking Pink Art Exhibit is a historically accurate timeline that highlights important female figures and features the color pink as a symbol of empowerment and solidarity.
