EPISODE REWIND: S2 Ep. 5 Breaking the Marble Ceiling: The Challenges Women in Political Leadership Face and How to Bypass Them w/ Amanda Hunter

About This Episode

Breaking the Marble Ceiling: Overcoming Gender and Racial Bias in Politics

In this episode of Embracing Your Voice, host Atima Omara welcomes Amanda Hunter, Executive Director of the Barbara Lee Foundation, for an enlightening discussion about gender and racial bias in politics. Together, they unpack the unique challenges women face in political leadership, focusing on how political representation for Black women is particularly affected by systemic barriers and voter biases.

Amanda shares actionable insights from the Barbara Lee Foundation's research, emphasizing how structural inequalities and stereotypes make it harder for women - especially women of color - to secure leadership roles. This episode highlights the importance of authenticity, resilience, and community support for overcoming these hurdles and advancing gender and racial equity in politics.

Amanda has covered the Foundation’s research on the role of gender in politics on PBS NewsHour, NPR, and CNN, as well as in the New York Times, the Washington Post, Vox, the Los Angeles Times, and Politico. The Barbara Lee Family Foundation has been resolute in its goal of understanding women's experience in politics and how to break the barriers women face when they are candidates on the federal, state, and local levels.

Key Timestamps

• [00:00:00] Introduction and Context: Atima discusses the political context, election results, and her work on elections through the Omar Strategy Group.
• [00:04:00] Amanda Hunter's Background: Amanda shares her journey from museum and nonprofit work to political research and advocacy at the Barbara Lee Foundation.
• [00:09:00] Lack of Diversity in Women's Representation: Discussion on the disparity in representation among women, highlighting that 75% of women in Congress have been white.
• [00:14:00] Stereotypes and Racial Bias in Politics: Detailed exploration of how stereotypes affect Black, Latina, Asian, and Indigenous women candidates differently.
• [00:22:00] Advice for Campaigns: Strategies for candidates and campaign staff to address biases, including over-communicating accomplishments and using tailored language.
• [00:26:00] Responding to Sexism and Bias: Voter preferences for calm, professional responses to sexism; Amanda cites AOC's response to Ted Yoho as a practical example.
• [00:31:00] Political Infrastructure Reception: Mixed reactions from campaign staff and political parties to research on bias and systemic challenges.
• [00:37:00] Double Standards for Women in Politics: Amanda highlights examples like Gretchen Whitmer's experiences and the double standards applied to women in leadership.
• [00:42:00] Diversity in Campaign Teams: Research shows that diverse campaign teams lead to more successful campaigns for women candidates.
• [00:48:00] Authenticity in Campaigning: Encouragement for women to bring their authentic selves to the campaign trail, including personal stories and cultural expressions like hairstyles.
• [00:52:00] Closing Thoughts and Resources: Amanda shares information on accessing the Barbara Lee Foundation's research and encourages women to run for office despite challenges.

Key Takeaways

1. Gender and Racial Bias in Politics: Women of color, particularly Black women, face compounded obstacles stemming from gender and racial stereotypes, requiring targeted strategies to dismantle these biases.
2. Breaking Barriers for Black Women in Leadership: Political representation for Black women remains disproportionately low, highlighting the need for systemic change and intentional support.
3. The Importance of Resilience: Overcoming bias requires mental wellness, resilience, and a supportive community, especially for Black women in high-pressure political environments.

How to Connect with Amanda Hunter

• Barbara Lee Foundation Website: Barbara Lee Foundation

Resources on Gender and Racial Bias in Politics

• Barbara Lee Foundation Research Reports: Download Here
• Advancing Representation for Black Women: Read More
• Support for Women in Politics: Explore Resources

Get Involved

Address gender and racial bias in politics and support the advancement of political representation for Black women by:

1. Sharing Resources: Amplify research and strategies for breaking gender and racial barriers in politics.
2. Donating: Contribute to organizations like the Barbara Lee Foundation, which works to elect women leaders and diversify political representation.
3. Volunteering: Join advocacy efforts to promote equity and inclusion in politics.

Learn More

Ready to challenge gender and racial bias in politics? Visit the Barbara Lee Foundation for resources, research, and actionable steps to support the political representation of Black women.

If you enjoyed the show and you want to join our community of other women of color who are embracing their voice head over to https://embracingyourvoicepod.com/

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