Nancy Pelosi, departing the House Speakers position, leaves behind a legacy of strong womanhood. She's a role model for young girls everywhere to crush through that proverbial glass ceiling to excel at all they choose to do. Pelosi stepped away from leadership roles in the House and will leave behind an incredible legacy of service and achievement. Some may say she has been the most influential House speaker in history. She has forged a path forward for women in politics and will leave a big hole to fill for the incoming replacement of speaker.
When Pelosi ran for office at the age of 47, she knew there would be extreme challenges to overcome as a woman in politics. She knew the difficulties of women candidates and the many roles we play as women including being wives and mothers while still chasing our career goals. She was first elected to Congress in 1987 when only 12 other Democratic women served in the House with her. Today, because of her ongoing example of what it is to lead, there are 91 Democratic women in the House.
“There isn’t any job you can’t hold…You have to have the knowledge and the judgment, and people then will respect your judgement;” said Pelosi in an interview during the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. That 19th Amendment is what made it possible for Pelosi to excel in Congress and become the woman she is today. She leaves behind a legacy of paving the way for women in politics and has made herself an unwavering leader to women everywhere.
Written by Stephanie Ocker