Top Ten Moments of Feminism in 2008

1. Electing President Barack Obama

Equality prevailed this year with the election of Sen. Barack Obama as the first black commander-in-chief. Endorsed by The Feminist Majority PAC for his commitment to civil justice and protection of women's rights, Eleanor Smeal, President of the Feminist Majority said this about the newly elected Presidential team: "Obama/Biden are running on the strongest platform for women's rights of any major party in USA history. But it's not just platforms. Voting records show the stark difference between the Obama and McCain tickets."

2. Hillary Clinton: 18 Million Cracks

Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign to become the first female President of the United States showed women that there is hope for one day crashing the final glass ceiling into the White House. Additionally, her perseverance during the primaries is one of the major reasons why the Democrats found success on November 4^th as she kept the Democratic platform in the media spotlight far longer than the Republican Party was able to do. On the day she conceded to Sen. Barack Obama she embraced the history she helped to create saying: "Although we weren't able to shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling this time, thanks to you, it's got about 18 million cracks in it. And the light is shining through like never before, filling us all with the hope and the sure knowledge that the path will be a little easier next time."

3. Gov. Sarah Palin: Firing Up Feminists

The nomination of Gov. Sarah Palin as Sen. John McCain's running mate during the 2008 election certainly got everyone to sit up and pay attention - especially the feminists. With her "five children, successful political career, $1.2 million net worth and beauty pageant looks" - she seemed to be the candidate that every woman and man in Republican Party was looking for. However, her nomination also fired up the women's rights movement and brought it front and center within the street fight for the Presidency. While some perceived Palin as part of a post-feminist world, her candidacy turned out to be nothing more than a shallow attempt by the GOP to partake in identity politics. In a historical essay written by Gloria Steinem she helped women understand the severe Catch-22 about Palin:

Here's the good news: Women have become so politically powerful that even the anti-feminist right wing -- the folks with a headlock on the Republican Party -- are trying to appease the gender gap with a first-ever female vice president. We owe this to women -- and to many men too -- who have picketed, gone on hunger strikes or confronted violence at the polls so women can vote. We owe it to Shirley Chisholm, who first took the "white-male-only" sign off the White House, and to Hillary Rodham Clinton, who hung in there through ridicule and misogyny to win 18 million votes.

But here is even better news: It won't work. This isn't the first time a boss has picked an unqualified woman just because she agrees with him and opposes everything most other women want and need. Feminism has never been about getting a job for one woman. It's about making life more fair for women everywhere. It's not about a piece of the existing pie; there are too many of us for that. It's about baking a new pie.

4.Unmarried Women Tip 2008 Election in Favor of Barack Obama

Unmarried women delivered a stunning 70 to 29 percent margin to Barack Obama and delivered similarly strong margins in races for Congress and the U.S. Senate. The 2008 election represented the highest margin recorded and a 16-point net gain at the Presidential level from 2004.

5. Sex and The City Movie Inspires New and Old Generations

The premiere of the Sex and the City Movie this year brought many women together to celebrate the trials and tribulations of life, love and the pursuit of a decent apartment. This movie recorded the biggest opening ever for an R-rated comedy and for a romantic comedy, and also for a film starring women. Additionally, a small movement was born to register voters at the movie premiere by Mobilize.org titled, "Sex and The City, and a side of Voter Registration."

6. Bitch Magazine Forges Ahead in Fiscal Crisis

With the struggling economy, it almost looked like feminists would lose one of their favorite publications - Bitch Magazine. However, when Andi Zeisler and Debbie Rasmussen turned to their friends on the Internet, they were able to exceed their fundraising goal of $40,000. Rasmussen writes on the Bitch blog: "This tremendous and swift outpouring has been honoring and humbling -- particularly because you've offered it during the worst days the U.S. economy has seen this year. Thank you. We're deeply grateful."

7. Workin' 9 to 5 Goes to Broadway

28 years after the cult classic premiered in theatres, "9 to 5 The Musical" arrives on Broadway to remind women about the continuing struggle against sexism in the workplace - but with a side of humor.

8. Female Bloggers Take On The Internet

The 2008 Blogher conference in San Francisco demonstrated that women are making their mark within the online space - but still face high threats to privacy, deep concerns about sexism in the blogosphere and struggle to find financial independence within the medium. The high attendance, in addition to the attention paid by major corporations and media at this year's conference demonstrated that the Blogher network is an unprecedented way to help women find a voice online. As seen with the recent Motrin ad campaign fiasco, these female bloggers are learning how to wield their influence and hold parties accountable for any online offense.

9. Sex Slavery Finds A New Face Of Justice

This year Somaly Mam was awarded the World's Children's Prize for the Rights of the Child in Sweden for her "dangerous struggle" to defend the rights of children in Cambodia. Her work has helped Americans become increasingly aware of the global problem of sexual slavery. Time Magazine honors her story saying: "As a girl, she was sold into prostitution in Cambodia. She doesn't know her age, her given name or any family members. But she knows how to fight human-trafficking, which in the past 12 months has claimed as many as 4 million girls and women."

10. Female Human Rights Activist Released From Captivity

Franco-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt returned to France at the beginning of July 2008, after six years as a hostage of Colombia's Farc guerrillas. The 47-year-old Colombian-French citizen had been campaigning for president of Colombia when FARC soldiers took her in 2002. As reported by TIME Magazine, her imprisonment "eventually became a cause célèbre in Europe, and after a Colombian government operation freed her and 14 other hostages in July, Paris rejoiced. Later in the year, Betancourt toured South America to call attention to the plight of the 700-plus hostages that FARC still holds. It remains to be seen whether she can convert her own celebrity into freedom for others held victim to Colombia's dysfunctional politics."