Pat Taub
As we approach the end of 2018 it’s tempting to sink into despair over the political and social catastrophes generated by the Orange Monster. Trump steals the headlines with his crazed tweets, obscuring a growing body of female leaders and innovators. I garner hope from all the badass women who rocked 2018, putting heart and soul into crafting a more humane society.
Some on my list, like Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, are household names, while others, like the young chef and food writer, Soleil Ho, are less well-known.
Dr. Christine Blasey Ford swearing- in before her testimony at the confirmation hearings for Brett Kavanaugh, September, 2018
This year’s midterm elections saw a record number of women elected to state and Congressional offices. Among the standouts is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the progressive firebrand who will represent the Bronx in the US Congress. Alexandria has received national attention with her calls for progressive reform, throwing herself into the Green New Deal to address economic inequality and climate change.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who come January will be be the youngest member of Congress
Another midterm victory went to Rashida Tlaib who will be the first Palestinian-American in Congress. She plans to wear a traditional Palestinian gown when sworn in, while rejecting the standard Congressional Israeli-sponsored trip to Israel in favor of visiting Palestine.
Rashid Tlaib celebrating her election win with family and friends
In another “first” two Native American women won their midterm elections. Deb Haaland, a Laguna Pueblo from New Mexico and Sharice Davids a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation of Kansas will join the US House of Representatives when it convenes in January.
Sharice Davids with her mother and supporters on election night, celebrating her win.
This year the #metoo movement picked up traction. While numerous celebrities, like Harvey Weinstein and Charlie Rose, were brought down, workplace sexual abuse continues to be problematic. Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s #metoo Congressional testimony against Brett Kavanaugh, accusing him of attempted rape failed to disqualify him for a Supreme Court seat, but it mobilized millennial woman across the country. They streamed into DC, staging sit-ins in numerous government buildings. The millennia’s political awakening makes my heart soar.
Who can forget Emma Gonzalez’s powerful display of silence during last spring’s “March for Our Lives” protest in Washington? When it was her turn to speak, Emma stood wordlessly at the podium staring down the massive crowd in front of her. After six minutes and 20 seconds Emma broke her silence saying, “That’s how long it took the shooter at my school to kill 17 students.”
Emma Gonzalez, during her silent 6 minutes at the “March for Our Lives” rally, Washington, March, 2018
On the peace front Ann Wright deserves to be singled out, having been a peace advocate for decades, dedicated to breaking Israel’s blockade of Gaza. This year, like past years, Ann joined humanitarian flotillas to Gaza. In 2010 Ann was on the flotilla that was stormed by Israeli soldiers who killed nine activists, roughing up Ann and confiscating her laptop.
In the arts women broke new grounds in 2018. For the first time the Metropolitan Opera has commissioned two women, Jeanine Tesori and Missy Mazzoli, to compose operas for the next season. Tesori’s opera, Grounded is about a female fighter pilot, who, when sidelined by pregnancy, is assigned to drone warfare.
Jeanine Tesori and Missy Mazola, the first women to be commissioned to write operas for the New York Metropolitan Opera
In dance Sara Mearns of the Paul Taylor Company, received glowing reviews for her interpretation of Isadora Duncan dance solos. On the New York stage Glenda Jackson, 82, came out of a long retirement to return to acting, winning a Tony for her role in Three Tall Women.
Sara Mearns won accolades for her interpretation of Isadora Duncan dances.
Carol Anderson, professor and author of the best-seller White Rage was a frequent guest on TV and at educational forums discussing how Jim Crow never really went away, cleverly embedded in our laws. Anderson defended Stacey Abrams, the Democratic candidate for Georgia’s governor who lost because of flagrant voter suppression.
Dr. Carol Anderson discussing her book,”White Rage” and racism.
This year Frances Arnold became the first American woman to win a Nobel Prize in Chemistry, making her only the fifth woman in history to earn a Nobel. Her prize was awarded for her work in the evolution of enzymes.
Soleil Ho, is a young Vietnamese-American chef and host of the podcast, “Racist Sandwich,” where she talks about food in relation to race, class, and gender. She was just named the new food critic for the San Francisco Chronicle.
Chef Soleil Ho
It wasn’t just famous women who rocked 2018. Every woman who cheered on Dr. Ford, who worked to elect progressive women, who took a stand against caging migrants, or who spoke out against injustices rocked 2018!
