Power to the People
Voter Suppression Research
Fall 2020
Our Voter Suppression Project featured in TPT Original’s article: https://www.tptoriginals.org/explore-the-fashion-choices-of-suffragists-who-fought-for-the-19th-amendment/?fbclid=IwAR0FcAcQOJuOAgmm0Gek29MD_8nIQMaIUy26PAyi8FFb953FxyG2W5CzTlU
The Apparel Design Senior Class of St. Kate’s worked on a Voter Suppression Research project that was featured at an event for the university called "The Power of Visual Representation". Each pair in the group created a garment inspired by our research and minority groups we identify with. I focused my research on low voter turnout rates of the Asian-American demographic.
My garment “Power to the People” is inspired by my family’s Hmoob Dub cultural clothing. I created a modern black jumpsuit that combined the surplice top and pant outfit. A jumpsuit is a powerful garment because I view it as a casual version of a modern suit (which womxn were not allowed to wear in historical eras of fashion).
In 2020, Asian-Americans will make up about 5% of the entire voting population. According to the Pew Research Center, the 2018 Asian-American eligible voter population was 4%, and that 4% consisted of 10,302,000 citizens (which is still A LOT of people even though my math was incorrect in my video because I accidentally did the math of 5% of the overall U.S. population rather than just the eligible voter population). The voter population percentage for the Asian-American demographic group increased by 14% from 2000 to 2018. The Asian-American voting population is even larger now in 2020!
We may feel like we aren’t important, and our voice doesn’t matter because we aren’t the largest population in America or because you are only one individual. Still, every voice and vote does count. There is power in numbers. Even if you don’t want to get involved in politics, remember that voting should be our constitutional right, but it truly is a privilege. Not everyone is allowed to vote, and many encounter obstacles that prevent them from voting. What happens in this country impacts all of us (because we all live in the U.S.) but especially womxn, BIPOC, immigrants, the LGBTQIA+ community, and other groups specifically are heavily impacted in this year’s election. Voting is a way we can use our voice as individuals and as a community. Exercise your right to vote and use your voice!