Jo Freeman's Convention Diary: Organized Women at the Democratic Convention

Jo Freeman's Convention Diary: Organized Women at the Democratic Convention; More Events of, by and for Women Than Any Other Single Group

In 1976-1984 and again in 1992, the Presidential candidate(s) addressed the women's caucus; in other years the wife was sent to rouse the women for her husband. This year no one came from Hillary's campaign, or the Obama administration, though there were plenty Members of Congress and other notables. Hillary hasn't spoken to the women's caucus since 2004. The highest ranking speaker at the 2016 women's caucus was House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

Unlike Cleveland, where I struggled to find meetings of women to attend, in Philadelphia there were too many. Most of them had entered their event information into a calendar created by DemList, a private, two-person-one-dog operation devoted to promoting the Democratic Party. In its calendar I counted more events of, by and for women than any other single group. LGBT events came in second. Indeed, there were more events aimed at women each day of the Democratic Convention than on all the days of the Republican Convention.

A number of them were predictable: Emily's List, NOW and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund all sold tickets and raised money at large receptions. Some were not. The Nuns on the Bus held meetings at the end of each night's convention meeting to talk about wealth and income inequality. (When did they sleep?) There were training sessions for women running for office, meet-and-greets with Hillary staff for those who want to work on her campaign, and separate events for Jewish Women and Women of Color.

Some of these groups, and many others, were among the 50+ tables in the Pennsylvania Convention Center (PCC) where advocates pushed their proposals. In addition to the groups already mentioned, there were tables for The Women's Center of Montgomery County, the National Women's Political Caucus, the Women's National Democratic Club, Black Girls Vote and and the Lesbian Political Action Committee.

Pink was pervasive inside the PCC and out. Inside, young women in pink T-shirts carried petitions for Planned Parenthood Action Fund or the Feminist Majority Fund. Outside, CodePink did their usual zap actions.

Although organized women were quite active inside and outside of the convention, women's place in the Democratic Party could be seen in the numerous speakers and entertainers. Someone should do a count and see how close it is to 50-50. Women's issues were also common, ranging from equal pay, to trafficking, to control of one's body. These weren't sideshows, but were central concerns throughout the convention.

In short in 2016, not only was a woman chosen to be the Democratic Party candidate for President, but women and women's issues were pervasive.

*State Delegate Selection Plans shall provide for equal division between delegate men and delegate women and alternate men and alternate women within the state’s entire convention delegation. For purposes of this rule, the entire delegation includes all pledged delegates and alternates and unpledged delegates (including unpledged party leaders and elected official delegates). From 2016 Delegate Selection Rules for the Democratic National Convention

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Jo Freeman's Convention Diary: Organized Women at the Democratic Convention; More Events of, by and for Women Than Any Other Single Group

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