Spring Break
Women and the vote
Political science professor urges young women to vote, study political issues
By: Emily Guevara
Issue date: 10/29/04 Section: News
Women tend to have more reservations about using force internationally, Van Hightower said.
"Women are less likely to think that the world is safer from terrorism now than it was before 9-11," Van Hightower said.
She said that, on the whole, women have more reservations about the United States' involvement in Iraq.
On the home front, women have stronger support for gun control and are less supportive of the death penalty, Van Hightower said.
Reproductive health care is a critically important issue for women, Van Hightower said.
"Women pay about 68 percent more than men ... for health care," Van Hightower said, "mainly due to contraceptive services."
Van Hightower said reproductive choice and the control of sexually transmitted diseases hold significant consequences for women both physically and beyond.
Following Van Hightower's lecture, audience members asked questions of four panelists including Van Hightower.
One audience member asked if the media's lack of coverage of women's issues was problematic for women getting politically involved.
Van Hightower said that although finding in-depth information in the media is a problem for all issues, not simply women's, public radio, television and Internet sites provide excellent information.
Panelist Wanda Watson, director of recruitment and special programs for the A&M College of Medicine, said women are doing a disservice to themselves if they do not seek information for themselves.
"Regardless of what the media is doing, regardless of the reproductive rights issues - educate yourself," Watson said.
Jenny Cavin, a recreation, park and tourism services graduate student, said she appreciated Van Hightower's perspective, but wanted more information on where the individual candidates stand on women's issues.
"I was actually hoping to hear a little bit more specifics," Cavin said. "What each party believed."
Library associate Corbet Perkins said he liked that Van Hightower encouraged not only research of the issues, but also involvement, which is the only thing that will bring about change.
"We need involvement to get to where we need to be," Perkins said.
The Race and Ethnic Studies Institute will present a post-election panel seminar at 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 18 in Evans Library 204E. For more information, contact Judy at (979) 845-0966.
"Women are less likely to think that the world is safer from terrorism now than it was before 9-11," Van Hightower said.
She said that, on the whole, women have more reservations about the United States' involvement in Iraq.
On the home front, women have stronger support for gun control and are less supportive of the death penalty, Van Hightower said.
Reproductive health care is a critically important issue for women, Van Hightower said.
"Women pay about 68 percent more than men ... for health care," Van Hightower said, "mainly due to contraceptive services."
Van Hightower said reproductive choice and the control of sexually transmitted diseases hold significant consequences for women both physically and beyond.
Following Van Hightower's lecture, audience members asked questions of four panelists including Van Hightower.
One audience member asked if the media's lack of coverage of women's issues was problematic for women getting politically involved.
Van Hightower said that although finding in-depth information in the media is a problem for all issues, not simply women's, public radio, television and Internet sites provide excellent information.
Panelist Wanda Watson, director of recruitment and special programs for the A&M College of Medicine, said women are doing a disservice to themselves if they do not seek information for themselves.
"Regardless of what the media is doing, regardless of the reproductive rights issues - educate yourself," Watson said.
Jenny Cavin, a recreation, park and tourism services graduate student, said she appreciated Van Hightower's perspective, but wanted more information on where the individual candidates stand on women's issues.
"I was actually hoping to hear a little bit more specifics," Cavin said. "What each party believed."
Library associate Corbet Perkins said he liked that Van Hightower encouraged not only research of the issues, but also involvement, which is the only thing that will bring about change.
"We need involvement to get to where we need to be," Perkins said.
The Race and Ethnic Studies Institute will present a post-election panel seminar at 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 18 in Evans Library 204E. For more information, contact Judy at (979) 845-0966.
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