Politics Magazine
Congress Is Still Predominantly Male, White, And Christian
Posted on the 08 January 2015 by JobsangerThe United States Constitution guarantees all citizens equality under the law, but that has never been a reality. Every little bit of equality gained by racial and ethnic minorities, religious minorities, women, and others outside the establishment has been won only with a long and hard fight -- and more still needs to be done before we realize that dream of true equality.
One reason, perhaps the major reason, why true equality is still not a reality is because our elected officials have always been predominately white, male, and christian. It should not be any surprise then that those elected officials would pass laws that generally support their own kind (white, christian males), while only tossing crumbs to others every now and then.
And if you thought the new 114th Congress would be any different, then are are sadly operating under a delusion. The new Congress is pretty much like all the Congresses in the past -- dominated by whites, males, and christians (see charts above). That means the continuing fight for equality has not gotten any easier.