The Squad-Empowering People One Tweet At A Time

Summary

Cori Bush, an activist and Progressive politician, has been elected to the US House of Representatives and embraced by the "Squad," a group of Congresswomen known for their strategic use of social media to engage the public on pressing issues, including the challenges faced by women in building a professional wardrobe on a budget.

Abstract

Cori Bush's election to the US House of Representatives marks a significant moment as she joins the ranks of the "Squad," a group of influential Congresswomen that includes Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, Ayanna Pressley, and Ilhan Omar. These women are both revered and reviled for their unwavering stance on progressive issues and their innovative use of social media platforms to foster public discourse. They have sparked conversations on the prohibitive costs associated with professional attire, particularly for women, and have offered practical solutions such as thrift shopping, clothing rental services, and the concept of a capsule wardrobe. Their approach to politics, which includes addressing societal norms and environmental concerns, is seen as a refreshing change and a model for future political engagement.

Opinions

The Squad is polarizing: admired by many for their strength and intelligence, yet disliked by those intimidated by their assertiveness.
Social media is a key tool for the Squad, used effectively to communicate policies and connect with a broader audience in a non-lecturing manner.
The cost of professional wardrobes disproportionately affects women, who must spend more on clothing and maintenance, adhere to stricter societal standards, and face harsher judgment on appearance.
The Squad's response to the wardrobe issue emphasizes affordable and sustainable fashion solutions, such as thrift shopping and clothing rentals, which are also environmentally friendly.
The Squad's approach to politics is seen as the future of political engagement, with a focus on practical solutions, inclusivity, and addressing broader societal issues.

The Squad-Empowering People One Tweet At A Time

screen capture by author

On November 3, 2020, Cori Bush was elected to serve on the US House of Representatives for the state of Missouri. Ms. Bush is an activist and rising star with a Progressive platform. She’s also been embraced as a new member of the “Squad”, joining forces with current Congressional members AOC, Rashida Tlaib, Ayanna Pressley, and Ilhan Omar.

Not surprisingly, these women are both loved and hated in our country. They’re hated by men and women intimidated by strong, intelligent women who won’t back down. And loved by other men, women, and youth who finally see someone standing up for them.

The Squad is shrewd in their use of social media to get the message out and introduce issues without lecturing. They use these platforms to promote ideas in ways that connect to everyone. That concept is new to politics.

By having conversations like the ones above on Twitter, that they could have had in private texts to each other, they start a dialogue. That dialogue isn’t just casual conversation. It gets people talking about issues.

It’s expensive to build a wardrobe for a new professional job.

Many people won’t apply for or hold these positions (including non-political) because it feels impossible with their resources.

Women have to spend more money to buy professional wardrobes than men do.

Women have to spend more money than men do to take care of their clothes.

Women have to have more outfits than men because of the different standards our society holds them to. A man could wear the same suit numerous times in the week and no one would notice or say anything.

People judge women for their ability to be stylish and well-groomed but don’t comment nearly as often for men.

These women get criticized for wearing expensive outfits because of their platform, running as everyday people, even when people don’t check to find out how they paid for their clothes.

How do they respond:

Brilliantly, by offering solutions to their new teammate that regular people can also use:

Suggest thrift store shopping for higher quality and stylish clothes.

Recommend an online service where you can rent clothes for membership prices.

Introduce the importance of accessories to spruce up less expensive and plain outfits without spending as much money.

Mention how shopping thrift stores is better for the environment, thereby helping with climate change solutions.

Talk about capsule wardrobes, where you only have a few basic pieces in neutral colors and mix and match. It makes it easier for traveling, less expensive, and better for the planet because you're not falling prey to the notion that you have to buy fast fashion in large quantities.

Instead of hating on these women, more politicians need to follow their lead.

The Squad is the future of our country and I for one am glad to see it.