By Imani Greene
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
As a caseworker for the U.S. House of Representatives working with immigration, Tiffany Hannon sifts through her cases for the day, when she recognizes one man’s name.
A few days ago, this man sought out another office for help because he felt that since Hannon was a woman, she would be incapable of helping him with his case.
A resident of Prince George’s County, 29-year-old Tiffany Hannon works for Congressman Anthony Brown in the Maryland Fourth Congressional District. Hannon is also secretary of the Prince George’s County Young Democrats.
Despite her active role in politics and many successes, Hannon still has to overcome the daily struggle of being in the minority – a woman in politics.
When it comes to politics, the voices and opinions of women are covered up by a masculine and male-driven society.
Sarah Oliver, an assistant professor in Towson University’s Political Science Department, said that women were once excluded from political participation.
“Women were confined to the private sphere of the home,” Oliver said. “The first big shift came with the suffrage movement.”
Women’s general political participation was still minimal even after the success of the suffrage movement.
“Women did not participate in large numbers, however, until social norms changed in the women’s rights movement,” Oliver said.
Advocacy for women’s increased involvement in politics is still present today, with Hannon, herself, being an advocate.
“We work just as hard as anyone else,” Hannon said. “If we get out and we express our concerns more, then things would change.”
Hannon, who received a college education in history and political science, now holds a lead casework position where she is responsible for being a liaison between the constituents in the Maryland Fourth Congressional District and the federal agencies.
“I’m kind of like the person that relays the information to get people their things processed,” Hannon said. “Or if they’re having an issue with a federal employer, then I’m the one who will help get that resolved or just even bring attention to the situation.”
Hannon said there are advantages to being a woman in politics.
“People tend to pay more attention to you, especially if you are the only woman in the room at a certain time,” Hannon said. “You tend to be the deal breaker.”
Inevitably, the disadvantages accompany the advantages of being a woman involved in the political field.
“The disadvantage is that oftentimes, women have to be a little more masculine than we should be, or that we would like to be,” Hannon said. “I feel like when we are soft and dainty, or when we are in our natural state, people don’t take us seriously.”
Hannon said she often experiences sexism while working in immigration casework with men from other countries who don’t want to work with her at all.
“I get a lot of men who will request to have someone else deal with their situation because they don’t feel like, as a woman, I’m capable of doing so,” Hannon said. “Then it’s up to me to work extremely hard to give them the results.”
Hannon said that aside from immigration situations, older men, in general, feel like she can’t do anything for them because she’s a woman.
“I feel like it’s necessary for us to let people know we can respond just as well as a man can,” Hannon said. “I think people often think that women are too emotional to handle subjects along the political level, but that is not true.”
Hannon follows in the footsteps of several women in the family who were active in politics. This includes her grandmother who was the first African American woman to be on her town’s city council, and an aunt, Arnita Hannon-Christmon, who has worked in politics for several decades.
“My Tiffany is so much like her grandmother,” Hannon-Christmon said. “She has that same passion and personality and moxie. And we tell her that all the time.”
Hannon said this passion for politics has allowed her to find the strength to continue doing what she loves, all while overcoming discrimination in the workplace.
“I guess my biggest accomplishment as a woman in politics is just encouraging other women younger than me that it doesn’t matter what anyone tells you,” Hannon said. “It doesn’t matter how many times you fail, you can always keep pushing.”