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Women in Government
The challenges and opportunities of entering the realm of public service
In the last century, women have gone from observers in the political realm to some of the
nation’s loudest voices in government.
The first woman to run for U.S. Congress entered the race more than 50 years before women had won the right to vote. Eliza-
beth Cady Stanton, a suffragette, ran as an independent in New York in 1866, receiving just 24 of 12,000 votes.
But nearly 100 years after the 19th Amendment was passed, women serve in federal, state and local offices across the
country. After the November 2016 elections were over, the Center for American Women and Politics reported that 24.8 percent of those serving in state legislatures across the nation would be women.
By Madeleine Leroux, Janice McIntyre and Brittany Williams
Leslie Rutledge
In Southern Arkansas, state Rep. Sonia Barker became a part of that percentage after receiving 55 percent of the votes for Dis- trict 7, which includes portions of Union, Ouachita and Cal- houn counties, including El Dorado and Smackover. She was the only woman in the race and was sworn into her first term Jan. 1.
Barker, who teaches French and coaches tennis at Smackover High School, said she does not feel like she has faced
Medic Discount Pharmacy
We appreciate all who serve.
347 W. Oak, El Dorado 862-4931
Richard Hanry, Joy Bowen & Casey DeYampert Pharmacists
BELLA – September 2017 – 3