Tag: Sparsha Saha

The panelists included Mass. “The recent turnout is very inspiring. We must be optimistic.” Provost and Elugardo said they each faced unique challenges as women running for office in a historically male-dominated field. Provost said she first ran for office in 1993, causing her to realize politics can be “a pretty rough occupation” dominated by “a boys’ network.” “After I was first elected, I had nails spread across my driveway,” she said. “Park rangers and managerial staff in buildings will call you ‘Honey’ or ‘Dear’ to remind you of your place. But she said people still treated her differently due to her gender during her campaign. “Men on the trail would often want to touch me or engage with me in ways that were sexualized,” she said. Provost said she can relate to Elugardo’s nervousness about being watched. McDonagh said women must empower other women. “We had an academic perspective, older and newer representatives, and someone operating in an interest group.” This “Women, Politics, and MA” panel forms part of a larger effort within the Expository Writing program to focus on topics relevant to current Harvard students.