Latest news with #politicalpawns
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Male legislators in Kansas use women as political pawns and defy the will of voters
Tina Hallenbeck, of Alma, rallies at the Statehouse in Topeka as part of the 50501 national day of action on May 1, 2025. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) Male legislators in Kansas use women as political pawns and defy the will of voters. In Kansas, the go-to move for some members of the Legislature is to ignore the will of the people and criticize, restrict or oppress the personal, legal behaviors of women. Even with their recent increase in pay, certain state House and Senate members still advocate for rushing through the session despite their own colleagues being critical of this action, or they promote bills contradictory to voters' wants and needs. In the most recent legislative session, women were used as political pawns by inexperienced legislator Sen. Patrick Schmidt, a Democrat, who gambled on women's health care rights because he viewed himself as some kind of political mastermind and champion for women. To be clear, most women do not view men who voluntarily attempt to make their lives harder as their champions. Other legislators, like Republican Rep. Pat Proctor, who recently announced his bid to oversee our state's elections, scrutinized the legal voting behavior of young women he claimed he was watching. Proctor is captured in a video Loud Light posted to Instagram stating: 'There's, like, all these, like, women, like 20- to 30-year-old women who, you know, that you never saw at the polls before.' He adds: 'They're stealing it far and square.' To be clear, it is your fundamental right to vote regardless of your gender or sex as long as you are registered appropriately, according to the laws of your state. If these women were not registered, they would not have been allowed to vote. They stole nothing. It is beyond concerning that Proctor, who also can be seen here discussing how he's chipping away at issues regarding voting rights, does not appear to respect the right to vote, particularly as for young women. These women were exercising their fundamental rights guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution. That legal activity alone does not merit the personal monitoring or the hysterical outcries of a state representative. In Kansas, women face extreme challenges that are unlikely to change without meaningful policy designed to promote the health and well-being of all women, especially women of color. The Status of Women in the States report paints a bleak picture for the women of Kansas. Research on the project's website indicates women in Kansas are not projected to see equal pay until 2074, 30% of women work in low-wage jobs, and women disproportionately experience mental health issues in comparison to their male counterparts. These numbers are even more staggering when we examine the effects on women of color. Where are the bills addressing these issues? Women endure so much, both publicly and privately, and Kansas women deserve legislators who view them as whole people, not dehumanized versions of an archetype produced by a patriarchy bent on subjugating women for their benefit. Women have held the hands of their sisters in the aftermath of rape by men who see us as objects for the taking. We have offered shelter and washed the blood off of our sisters when they've been beaten by men who claim to love them. We cook meals to nourish other women's families in times of illness or crisis. We work multiple jobs, we clean messes we didn't make, we appease, we follow orders, we submit out of fear or survival, we carry the emotional loads for our households and communities — a woman's walk is never to be understood until you walk it. The beautiful, innocent women of Kansas deserve better. Perhaps, moving forward, members of the Legislature should consider consulting with the women they are so hyper-focused on regulating in an inappropriate, terrifying way. What these legislators might find is that policies designed to burden women are unfair and unimaginable to most of the decent, good-hearted women and men Kansas is known for. That is, if legislators are truly interested in helping women. The forced positioning of women as pawns in elected officials' political games is wicked and vile. Either support us appropriately, or leave us alone. Amber Dickinson holds a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Kansas. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.
Washington Post
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Venezuelans head to the polls as opposition calls for boycotts and the government tightens grip
CARACAS, Venezuela — As Venezuelans head to a Sunday election, they are again being used as political pawns. Opposition factions are urging abstention while the ruling party aims to tighten its grip on power — all while both sides appeal to the U.S. government for decisions that would have a greater impact on people's lives than the vote's results.
