Proportionality in the legislature has failed so far. Affirmative Action has not brought representation to the legislative branch for Native Americans, or Women. One way to compare this is with veteran enrollment.
As a proportion of USA veterans, more than 190,000 Native Americans have been there, at the forefront. This group has one of the highest per capita involvement rates. However, at a USA population of approximately 1%, Native Americans are underrepresented in our legislative branch of 435 representatives and 100 senators. Currently only one person in Congress claims Native American ethnicity.To be represented proportionally, they ought to have another three representatives and at least one senator. This is an under-representation of 80%.
Blacks have served in the Army at a rate of 22% and 13% in the National Guard. Compare that to the 13% black population with a House representation of almost 10% or 42 souls; all democrats, and a less encouraging 1% (Barack Obama) in the senate; soon to be lost. Proportionally speaking, there should 55 representatives and 13 senators. This is an under-representation of 37%
Hispanics have served at a rate of near 12% in the Arm and 8% in the National Guard. They comprise 14% of the population; have 61 representatives, and 3 senators. They are at par with 61 representatives and should have 14 senators. They have done much better. This is an under-representation of a little under 15%.
Of course there are other groups, Asians, pacific islanders, and a very large 41% of the population that identifies itself as “Other Race”. This category may mean different things in different resources. Asians and Pacific Islanders are lumped together in the Legislature, so are a little more difficult to identify. However, Asians and another category of “Other” comprise 6% of the Army and National Guard.
Whether fighting against those that were wrong, like Tashna Mani did against Custer, or as part of the military, women, like other population groups, have battled for this country more than two hundred years. The Veterans Affairs estimates that women will make up 40% of veterans by 2010. This is a sad state of affairs when women will now only make up 16% of the legislative population that sends people to war. Women produced only 73 souls in the 110th House, and 16 in the Senate. Yet women are a population of 51% of the US. They ought to have 222 representatives and 51 senators. This is an under-representation of 67%.
It should be noted that there is a hidden element in the counting of women. Since the beginning of the affirmative action programs, women have been lumped together with minorities. As a consequence, they are often counted in two catagories. With the inclusion of the seat of the recently deceased Stephanie Tubb-Jones, there were 15 Black women in Congress, 7 Hispanic women and 1 Pacific Islander.
Some women have been slightly better at achieving gender parity. White women ought to have 66% or 180 House and Senate seats. They have 66. This is an under-representation of 63%. Black women should have 35 seats and are under-represented by 57%. Hispanic women should have 38 seats and are down by 82%. The Pacific Islander may be at par.
Women fight for this country. Yet, clearly women have been unable to gain equality in the Legislature. Only the Native American numbers are worse, and those could be changed significantly with just the addition of one or two more people.
Our culture must change. Women must fight in a different way to achieve parity. Just like the White population, the Black and Hispanic representation is actually over-represented by male population and should consider relinquishing some seats to women. This observation shows that first and foremost women should consider themselves as a group, above any other demographics involved. If we want to make a change we must do it ourselves.
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/00000.html
http://www.infoplease.com/us/government/women-minorities-110th-congress.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_the_United_States
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proportional_representation
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