I didn't really think about the lack of a female presence on dollar bills until I had read this article. As it turns out, there is a campaign to get the 20 dollar bill to feature a woman! Recently, there was an online poll for people to vote between 15 different historical women in the United States. Out of all 15, Harriet Tubman won the poll. In a petition, the campaign took the online poll to the government in an attempt to ignite some reform. A video was created for more information, check out WomenOn20s.org
As a feminist, this has been in amazing development and I am so happy that people are taking action to make this change. Although some may say that our currency isn't that big of a deal in comparison with issues like foreign policy or injustice at home, implementing a woman on the 20 dollar bill would ignite a great social change for the better of the united States. As great of a goal as this is, however, I don't believe it will pass. Throughout the history of the USA, American currency has been used to disenfranchise both people of color and women(of which Harriet Tubman is both). It can be interpreted that Harriet Tubman was stealing "property" and liberating it, which is inherently anti-capitalism. Tubman never respected the economic system of the United States, so making her a symbol of American capitalism could be seen as disgraceful. Whichever way this turns out, I hope it brings to light the social issues prevalent in the US today.
Source:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/05/14/keep-harriet-tubman-and-all-women-off-the-20-bill/
As a feminist, this has been in amazing development and I am so happy that people are taking action to make this change. Although some may say that our currency isn't that big of a deal in comparison with issues like foreign policy or injustice at home, implementing a woman on the 20 dollar bill would ignite a great social change for the better of the united States. As great of a goal as this is, however, I don't believe it will pass. Throughout the history of the USA, American currency has been used to disenfranchise both people of color and women(of which Harriet Tubman is both). It can be interpreted that Harriet Tubman was stealing "property" and liberating it, which is inherently anti-capitalism. Tubman never respected the economic system of the United States, so making her a symbol of American capitalism could be seen as disgraceful. Whichever way this turns out, I hope it brings to light the social issues prevalent in the US today.
Source:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/05/14/keep-harriet-tubman-and-all-women-off-the-20-bill/
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