278: The Year of the Woman: A History of Women in Congress

Today, 131 women serve in the House and Senate, making Congress
the most female and most diverse it’s ever been.





But women in politics continue to face an uphill battle. Even
after their election, Congresswomen such as Alexandria
Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib have faced criticism for their
choice of clothing and language. One radio commentator in Atlanta
even suggested Lucy McBath should quote “go back to the
kitchen.” 





We look at the history of “women in Congress,” how much progress
we’ve made and how much work lies ahead.  



Image: A composite of all available images of the 365 women who
have served in Congress since 1917. Compiled using a search of
pictures available via the Office of Art & Archives, Office
of the Historian, United States House of
Representatives: https://history.house.gov/People/Search?Term=Search&SearchIn=LastName&ShowNonMember=true&ShowNonMember=false&Office=&Leadership=&State=&Party=&ContinentalCongress=false&BlackAmericansInCongress=false&WomenInCongress=true&WomenInCongress=false&HispanicAmericansInCongress=false&AsianPacificAmericansInCongress=false&Dates=All&CongressNumberList=65-66-67-68-69-70-71-72-73-74-75-76-77-78-79-80-81-82-83-84-85-86-87-88-89-90-91-92-93-94-95-96-97-98-99-100-101-102-103-104-105-106-107-108-109-110-111-112-113-114-115-116&PreviousSearch=Search%2cLastName%2c%2c%2c%2c%2cFalse%2cFalse%2cTrue%2cAll%2c65-66-67-68-69-70-71-72-73-74-75-76-77-78-79-80-81-82-83-84-85-86-87-88-89-90-91-92-93-94-95-96-97-98-99-100-101-102-103-104-105-106-107-108-109-110-111-112-113-114-115-116%2cMostRecommended&CurrentPage=31&SortOrder=MostRecommended&ResultType=Grid&Command=1





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