"I don't know anything about politics"
"I don't care about politics"
"I just don't get it"
"I don't particularly like any of the people standing"
SOUND LIKE SOMETHING YOU WOULD SAY?
Well, same.
Before I could vote I was kinda like "am I gonna tho?" Cos I never knew a single thing about politics. To be honest, I'm not all that clued up now. I won't sit here and lie to you all and pretend I've now transformed myself into some kind of politically savvy gal just cos I'm now a feminist (ooh, and President of my university's FemSoc starting next year! EXCITING!)
But I have this feeling that we are in a pivotal time for politics and women. I mean, come on, A WOMAN IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT OF THE USA!!!!!
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| HOLLA FOR HILLARY!! |
This upcoming General Election I have decided to be much more involved, and try and make an effort to understand it all. I did this partly because I knew it was the right thing to do, and because even if I don't always get what the hell's going on, I do care about who is in charge and what happens to the country - and everyone should really. I also was spurned on by Kate Willoughby, a wonderful woman who started the online campaign '#EmilyMatters' to encourage young people, specifically women, to vote. She came to visit us and do a talk with my FemSoc, which was really eye-opening. She showed us these stastics:
So basically, most of the voting is being skewed by old men.
My uni was once home to Emily Wilding Davison, who was an important figurehead in the Suffragette movement. She threw herself under a bloody horse so we could vote - and yet, a century later, we still have statistics like this. Where are all the young female voters? We're not being encouraged enough in schools and sixth forms to be politically active. It isn't seen as something that women should do. To be honest, we're just not educated enough about it at all. I live with two girls at the moment who say they would vote, but they just don't know enough about it.
Why isn't it compulsory education that we learn about how our country is run? Why aren't young people, especially young women, being equipped with the knowledge that we need to let our decisions and voices be heard? IT'S RIDIC.
Anyhow, it's important for us to get clued up. So, first of all, have a look at the Policy Guide on the BBC Website. It shows you where all the parties stand on key issues like the economy, immigration, housing, welfare, healthcare etc., as well as what their key priorities are as a party. Just summed up in bullet point lists so you can get a general overview of it all without all the heavy reading:
Once you've got a bit more of an idea of what's going on, register to vote here:
It's really simple and quick, all you need is your NI number and off ya go!! Time to help change the way the country's run! You have til the 20th April. MAY THE ODDS BE EVER IN YOUR FAVOUR.
Tegan xo
2 comments:
Agree with you so much, really hoping this has encouraged a few more people to vote! It would be so interesting to see what the results would be if everyone voted in comparison to current low turnouts.
Have you seen the thing about Michael Buble's instagram post and his response? If so, I was wondering what you thought :)
I was sixteen when I was suddenly uprooted from Singapore to Houston because my Dad decided to pursue a business opportunity there. At that time, I entered the public university that was closest to where I lived. I want to Join GCSE Tuiton Marlow
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