I recently participated in a Zoom call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy along with many of my colleagues in the House and Senate. Despite the attendees on the call all being Members of Congress, Twitter was quick to describe me as a “random woman,” a “poor exhausted intern,” and House Majority leader Steny Hoyer’s “daughter or granddaughter or assistant or something.”

I am one of 435 members of the United States House of Representatives — I don’t expect everyone to recognize me. But I do believe that, in the year 2022, if you see a young woman at an event with only Members of Congress it’s best to assume she's also a Member of Congress.

This kind of implicit bias in how young women are viewed is nothing new, and serves to dismiss and minimize the work we do. Young women in positions of power are used to being overlooked and not taken seriously.

That’s exactly why it’s so important that we keep showing up and supporting more leaders who look and sound different than what we are used to. I am determined to stay in Congress and keep proving that the voices and power of young people, especially young women, can make a huge difference. Will you show you have my back with a contribution to my re-election campaign today?

Together we can create a world where young women are given the respect they deserve.

Thank you,
Sara