Forgotten Women: Patsy Mink
Start writing a post
Politics

Forgotten Women: Patsy Mink

Patsy Mink is a female Asian American politician, representative of the shift in feminist perspective.

229
Forgotten Women: Patsy Mink
Wikimedia

Patsy Mink was a third generation Asian American born in Hawaii. She was her high school class valedictorian and attended the University of Hawaii in 1944. Mink later transferred to the University of Nebraska and was forced to live in racially segregated dorm buildings. In reaction to this overt racism, she founded a massive coalition that would successfully lobby to dismantle the University’s segregation policies.

In 1948, Mink applied to twenty different medical schools, but none were accepting female applicants at the time. Mink then decided she wanted to ameliorate gender-based discrimination in higher education by practicing law.

In 1965, Mink became the first woman of an ethnic minority to be elected to the United States Congress.

In 1972, Mink ran for president as an anti-war candidate in the Oregon primaries. Some of her most influential accomplishments include the Early Childhood Education Act and the Women's Educational Equity Act.

Patsy Mink is especially significant to the modern feminist movement due to her intensive involvement with Title IX and Women’s Educational Equity Act of 1974. Title IX, in its most basic sense, is designed to provide policy goals for the advancement of educational equity for women.

This bill served as a pivotal precedent to the Women’s Educational Equity Act which supported and bolstered the goals of Title IX by funding programs that advocated for gender equality in education.

Mink’s introduction of the Women’s Educational Equity Act is a significant landmark in US history representative of the altering feminist narrative and the integration of intersectional ideas to the movement. One of the act’s main goals was “to promote equity in education for women and girls who suffer from multiple forms of discrimination based on sex, race, ethnic origin, limited English proficiency, disability, or age.”

This clause within WEEA is one of the first congressional acts to recognize intersectionality, indicative of a burgeoning intersectional feminist perspective that sought to recognize the women who were discriminated against based on a myriad of factors rather than just gender.

Mink is a trailblazer for the articulation of fourth wave feminism and the inclusion of intersectional women in the feminist movement. Her passion for equal rights and dedication to activism has provided women everywhere with a more egalitarian education experience.

She is not only a successful advocate for the oppressed, but she is also a representation of the shift in dialogue within the feminist movement, broadening conversations of gender to include diversity.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned.

70849
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

132444
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments