Janice R. Andrews
South Carolina (AP) — In a startling and profound political shift, South Carolina voters have ousted the state’s three remaining Republican women senators. Following their defeats in June’s low-turnout primary, Sens. Sandy Senn, Penry Gustafson, and Katrina Shealy left the Republican majority devoid of female representation. This move follows the trio’s opposition to a complete ban on abortions last year, which attracted criticism from both the local and national public.
A Significant Turnabout in the Senate
The loss of Senn, Gustafson, and Shealy has created a vacancy in the South Carolina Senate, where the five women, two of whom are Democrats, known as the “Sister Senators,” had previously unified against bills that restricted abortion. The passing of these Republican women not only signifies a dramatic shift in the political climate in the state, but it also brings attention to the continued obstacles that South Carolina’s female politicians must overcome in order to achieve and hold political power.
Women have never had much of an impact on South Carolina politics. With enough images of all the women who have ever served in the 170-seat General Assembly to put on a single banner outside the governor’s office, the state has a long history of underrepresentation. The abrupt resignation of these Republican women highlights the challenges in attaining and maintaining female representation in a state with such a strong conservative bent.
The Effect on Upcoming Leaders
There may be long-term effects from the lack of Republican women senators. The Senate’s power and responsibility structure heavily relies on seniority, with half of the current GOP senators having been elected in 2012 or earlier. This might cause a delay in gender balance and the promotion of women’s concerns in the state since it could take decades for any newly elected Republican woman to take on a leadership role or serve as the head of a committee.
Senn encouraged other women to take up the cause of representation and equality in her goodbye address. “Someone else has to take the stand, ladies. It will need another person to step in and put things right, the woman said.
An Unsettling Gender Divide
According to the Center for American Women in Politics, South Carolina has the fewest number of women in its upper house, with just two senators from the state’s 46-member Senate in the next legislative session. Considering that women make up 55% of the state’s registered voters, this is very concerning. Sen. Tameika Isaac Devine, a Democrat who was elected in a special election this year, highlighted the need of having female participation, particularly in fields like community concerns and healthcare where women’s perspectives are particularly essential.
“Despite their capacity for empathy, males have not given birth to children. Their hysterectomies have not occurred. Some of the healthcare and community challenges that we deal with on a daily basis haven’t affected them, according to Devine.
The Repercussions of the Abortion Discussion
The Republican Sister Senators’ resistance to an outright ban on abortion led to a compromise, with South Carolina becoming the first state to outlaw the procedure once cardiac activity is identified, usually six weeks into a pregnancy. The three Republican ladies received the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage medal as a result of their actions, which attracted notice from all across the world. But it also made them targets for fervent opponents of abortion, who used billboards and mailings to call them “baby killers.”
Republican Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey pointed out that their loss was due to factors other than the abortion debate. “They were all painted as squishy and out of touch by their opponents,” he said, expressing a general dissatisfaction among conservative voters.
Difficulties and Triumphs
Sen. Katrina Shealy, an advocate for women, veterans, families, and children who has been in office since 2013, had concerns about the direction of her advocacy work. Shealy enacted a number of important laws throughout her 12-year term, including as ones that addressed the rising number of dementia cases, outlawed subminimum salaries for those with impairments, and investigated suspicious infant deaths.
“We have assisted families, children, and the crippled. After her defeat in the runoff, Shealy said, “We’ve helped women and we’ve helped veterans.” “And who is going to do that now? That is what worries me so much.”
Shealy accomplished several modest but significant reforms in spite of the political obstacles, such updating the restrooms for women in the Senate office building. Shealy pushed for more inclusive language during Senate sessions as part of her attempts to bring about change in a chamber that has historically been controlled by men.
A Request for Participation
For the last six years, an organization called SC Women in Leadership has worked to assist and encourage more women to enter politics by encouraging them to run for office. But as Shealy and Gustafson’s experiences demonstrate, tenacity and fortitude are necessary for political success in South Carolina.
Shealy displayed the $36,000 lantern trophy she was given by the Profile in Courage organization during her parting address, signifying her resolve to defend her moral convictions. This is it. It’s also rather lovely. And I’m happy with it. I’m glad I lost this Senate campaign in order to get this because I stood up for what was right. I defended the rights of women. I took a stance on favor of kids. I defended South Carolina,” the woman said.
The obstacles faced by women in politics, especially in conservative areas, are brought to light by the removal of four Republican women from the South Carolina Senate. It also emphasizes how important it is to keep working to empower and assist women in positions of political leadership.
