The Changing Face of Power - at our very own Hubert H. Humphrey Center!
A new exhibit at the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute documents the lives of over thirty-three women who have undergone many trials and tribulations serving in the U.S Senate. Photographer Malina Mara focused on the power of women in her photographs and audio interviews but really tried to capture images of women holding their own and the disadvantages they face in their jobs.
Sally Kenney, director of the Center of Women and Public Policy at the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute, explains that there really should be no reason that Minnesota has never elected a woman to the Senate.
"Minnesota has been a real center of organized feminism," says Kenney. "For example we had the first ever battered women's shelter in the country, we have the Minnesota Women's Consortium, and we have the Minnesota Women's Campaign Fund, which is a pact to try to elect women to public office. So there's been alot of women's movement activity in Minnesota, yet it hasn't always translated into electoral success for women candidates and that's something that many people are trying to fix."
Kenney is pairing the exhibit with discussion talks, and is teaching a course this year with former Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton on women and politics! The exhibit is aimed at getting people to think about why so few women have involvement in the U.S Senate or any political organizations. The makers of the exhibit are trying to educate people about the talents and skills and contributions that women can make to the world; that women are half the population and we are doing a disservice to ignore that fact.
The Changing Face of Power exhibit will only be running through February 20 so check it out soon!
P.S There's some other cool stuff going on at the U...
http://www.hhh.umn.edu/centers/wpp/programs_outreach/events_2006.html