VOTE VOTE VOTE

Hey everyone! With election season well underway, and with just over a week to go until Election Day, I wanted to provide some helpful resources about the different ways your vote can impact American women. Being an informed voter is incredibly important, especially in this particular election with so many changes happening every day. If you have yet to cast your vote or just want more information about the possible outcomes of the election, check out the links below for some great resources about what a vote means in the 2020 election. 

Higher Heights for America: https://higherheightsforamerica.nationbuilder.com/
    This organization was created as a platform for Black women to better understand where they fit within U.S. politics and policies. Their website includes dedicated tabs for articles, reports about Black women’s involvement in American politics, and so much more. They cover a plethora of topics in their articles tab and I would highly recommend checking out this page for a holistic view of the voter's impact in this election. Higher Heights also offers webinars and other programs to help Black women expand their knowledge and involvement in various political spheres. This resource helped me the understand the Black woman's experience within American politics and I could not recommend this source enough for better understanding the female minority experience in the United States.

The Kaiser Family Foundation: https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/
    The KFF website has an entire section of its online journal dedicated to women’s health policies. The article listed at the end of this paragraph specifically gives an in-depth breakdown of each candidate’s views of different topics related to women’s health. This article also includes easy-to-read tables of each candidate’s proposals and ideas to help navigate a confused voter through understanding both sides of the ballot. Other article topics listed on their headline page include those about insurance coverage, Medicaid, and women’s health profiles for each state. (https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/issue-brief/the-2020-presidential-election-implications-for-womens-health/)

Forbes:https://www.forbes.com/sites/lizfrazierpeck/2020/10/08/how-2020s-pandemic-and-election-are-impacting-womens-small-business/#5e03de0349e3
    This short piece by Forbes takes a deeper look into how female business owners are preparing for the election results and their predictions about how their businesses will be impacted. With the COVID-19 pandemic having put so many small businesses in jeopardy, it is important to consider how our future leader may, or may not, support these business owners in future times of need. 

Medical News Today: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/what-will-the-us-election-mean-for-black-white-disparities-in-maternal-and-child-health#Hospital-level-reforms
    Dr. Tiffany Green of Medical News Today published a great, detailed piece about the already significant disparities of maternal and child health between minority and white populations. She covers the Affordable Care Act, past and future hospital reforms, racial bias within the healthcare system, and accessibility to family planning resources. Whichever side you are planning on voting for, I would definitely be sure to read this article as it highlights some lesser-known issues within American healthcare. 

The articles I have listed are only a small fraction of the total literature published about the 2020 election (and it does not stop at women’s health, there are so many other issues to consider). As a first-time voter myself, I would definitely encourage everyone who plans on casting their vote to thoroughly educate themselves before making their decision. Candidates, policies, and proposals can be confusing so make sure to properly learn about what you are voting for or against. The ability to vote is a privilege, especially when there are so many forms of democratic suppression throughout the world. Just a few minutes and some colored-in ballot circles can significantly impact your life and the lives of millions of other Americans.