Political Women: Missing Pieces
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Why don’t women run for office?
A national study championed by former RI Congressional candidate and Brown political science professor, Jennifer Lawless, found that women, even in the highest tiers of professional accomplishment are “substantially less likely than men to demonstrate ambition to seek elected office." Women, Lawless says, are less likely than men to be recruited to run for office, and less likely than men to express a willingness to run for office in the future. "This gender gap in political ambition persists across generations," she adds. "Despite cultural evolution and society’s changing attitude toward women in politics, running for office remains a less attractive and feasible endeavor for women than for men.”
It is not remarkable to engage legislators that are accountable, that do their homework and take a common sense approach to problem solving… it’s just that women candidates, who posses these complementary skills in the male-dominated world of politics, don’t exist in the numbers we need to truly affect change and offer balance. And we need to work on that. To quote Margaret Thatcher: “In politics, if you want anything said ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman.”
In this time of economic crisis, it is more important than ever to have a woman’s voice at every level of government.
In a study conducted by Hedge Fund Research Inc, data confirmed that women tend to take less extreme risks and adopt more measured styles than their male peers. Women also tend to favor a more detailed, comprehensive approach in coming to their conclusions, where men are more likely to simplify data and make decisions on one over-arching plan. The differences demonstrated in the study were not created to cause rank of one gender over another, but as an obvious indicator that we need men AND women to balance each other out. We clearly need both skill sets in policy decision-making arenas.
Despite women’s enormous contributions, women are still largely absent from government leadership positions and our voices and perspectives on economic policy creation are often missing at local, regional, national and international levels. This is a big concern, as American women have a major stake in a fair tax system.
Women make up more than 50% of all taxpayers, and like all citizens, we have a keen interest in a tax structure that is adequate and equitable.
As referenced in a study by the National Council for Research on Women, the following findings underline why women’s involvement in government policy –elected office in particular---is so vital:
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST- Women’s income is more than likely to come disproportionately from wages rather than from dividends or other income from wealth, so we are unevenly penalized when wages are taxed more heavily than income from investments.
- Women are more likely than men to work part-time, interrupt their work lives and spend fewer years in the paid labor force. We have less access to employer-provided benefits and a greater need for tax-supported services like income security programs and health insurance.
- Women tend to live longer then men, so we are in need of good retirement benefits, including health coverage. But because women often work in the paid economy for fewer years and at lower wages then men, we rely more on Social Security and other publicly funded benefits for the elderly.
Women as a group occupy a certain position in our society and our economy - a position that places us at the center of the debate over how we, as a nation, tax ourselves and how we spend that tax money. We need a seat at the table to have an impact on this important discussion and we need to barge in…sooner than later. We need to support women who are willing to be our voice in this conversation. We need constructive change. We need women in Congress. We need women in Statewide Office and in the General Assembly. We need women seated on our town councils and school committees. We need representation by women on the hundreds of boards and commissions.
So, what is stopping you from getting involved?
Do you know how to use your voice and power to impact change? Throughout Rhode Island we are yearning for more women to run for office. We rank 30th in voting women into office when compared to the rest of the States. When polled, most women cite campaign fundraising, loss of personal privacy, family commitments and the real concern of truly making a difference once in office, as deterrents. I understand these concerns, but they all can be overcome - especially with support from teams of energized women and men.
I liken our advancement of women in political leadership roles to the wonderment of the energy created with migratory birds. When you see migratory birds heading north for the summer or south in the fall, flying along in "V" formation, you might be interested in knowing what scientists have discovered about why they fly that way. It has been learned that as each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the bird immediately following in the pattern.
Creating "lift"
I think in this study of nature there is an analogy in how we approach creating a women’s political team in Rhode Island. A force to be reckoned with.
The scientists say: By flying in "V" formation, the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying distance than if each bird flew on its own.
- The application: Women who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.
The scientists say: Whenever a bird falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front.
- The application: To make an impact, we will stay in formation with those who are heading in the same direction as we are. There is political power in numbers.
The scientists say: When the lead bird gets tired, she rotates back in the formation and another bird flies point.
- The application: It pays to take turns doing hard jobs. We need to cultivate fresh political prospects and create political understudies by tapping the expertise of mentors from previous bids for office.
The scientists say: Geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
- The application: We need to be careful what we say and use our voices, not only to prioritize the policy agenda, but also to speak up and identify/ encourage a candidate. We need to embrace the fact that there are two distinct roles in the flying “V”. Women who take the lead and run for office and those who support the candidacy. The roles are equally important to go the distance.
So, for a generation that was taught that we could have it all, why have we become stagnant here in RI? Why are we losing the momentum courageously forged for us by Susie Farmer, Arlene Violet, Lila Sapinsley, Kathleen Connell, Barbara Leonard, Nancy Mayer, Claudine Schneider, Elizabeth Roberts and Teresa Paiva-Weed?
As successful CEO’s of our homes and family units, it is time we devote as much passion and care to our “Homeland.”
It is our future at stake.
I would like to end with an optimistic quote from one of my favorite political activists, Barbara Bush, as she addressed the graduating class at Wellesley College. She said, “Somewhere out in this audience may even be someone who will follow in my footsteps, and preside over the White House as the President’s spouse. I wish him well!”
Sue Stenhouse was the Republican candidate for Rhode Island Secretary of State in 2006. She served on the Warwick City Council for seven years and is currently the Director of Community Relations in the Office of the Governor. This piece is culled from her recent address to the Newport County Chamber of Commerce.
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