On Women's Equality Day, where do we stand?
Posted by Linda Mitchell, NWPC-WA State President
Today, August 26th, marks the anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution giving women the right to vote. 51 years later, Congresswoman Bella Abzug fought to have this date established as Women's Equality Day.
Washington State leads the nation by being the only state with two women U.S. senators and a woman governor; and many of the leadership positions in our legislature are held by women. But like the tip of the iceberg, these stats hide a larger problem.
In 1999-2000 we led the nation with nearly 41% of our legislature made up of women. That number has been dropping and, in 2010, just 32.7% of our legislators are women (29 in the house, 19 in the senate). Depending on how things go in November, we may be back to 1991 levels at 31.9% women.
At the federal level, of course, the numbers are worse. Of 535 members of Congress this year, only 90 or 16.8% are women (and we may lose one more with Sen. Lisa Murkowski's re-election hanging by a thread). Globally, the U.S. ranks a dismal 74th in number of women worldwide serving in parliament or congress.
Getting women elected and appointed to elected office in representative numbers is fundamental to NWPC's goal of achieving political gender parity. Why does it matter?
We no longer suffer from the ballot box bias of days gone by. When women run, women win. So why aren't more women running?
For women with children at home, the slog to Olympia for the legislative session creates a childcare issue. Single moms are particularly hard hit, and the paltry salary we pay our part-time legislators makes it even tougher.
The 2012 Project is a campaign of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University that works to inspire women over 45 to run for federal and state legislative office. Women over 45 are typically advanced in their professions, have fewer family responsibilities, are more likely to be financially stable, and have deeper roots in their communities. The 2012 Project will recruit these "third act" women from eight industries critical to the nation's future: health, science and technology, finance, energy and environment, international relations, and small business.
Here in Washington the Caucus will continue to focus on identifying, recruiting, and training women of all ages to run for office!
Women typically come to office to solve a problem. But starting out as candidates, women often lack monied and influential networks men develop during their careers. NWPC's long-standing connections and established reputation help women with financial assistance and training to equip them to face the long road of running for office.
Through the NWPC Campaign Fund and donations from our members and friends, the Caucus works to support our endorsed candidates and protect our women leaders currently serving in elected office who face tough re-election campaigns.
NWPC brings the knowledge of seasoned campaigners to first-time candidates through annual campaign training, endorsement, and conference calls with experts during the campaign.
Outreach to younger women and more diverse groups of women to fill the pipeline for future runs for office continues to be a NWPC priority. This year the Caucus launched the Smart Women Salon Series: A guide to political leadership. Salons are a great way to make connections and network, and these one hour mini-training session cover topics like using social media, mentoring, volunteering on campaigns, developing your one-minute elevator speech, among others.
The NWPC exists to help level the playing field for women and provide that important network of support: the tools, the money, and the motivation women need to run and win. But the numbers don't lie and we are not moving in the right direction. We need your help.
Support women candidates. So many of us say we are passionate about getting more women elected and yet, can find reason after reason why that woman is not as good. Let's reconsider the criteria that we have been handed to determine "good" and give women a chance.
Better yet, run for office! We'll be here for you.
Today, August 26th, marks the anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution giving women the right to vote. 51 years later, Congresswoman Bella Abzug fought to have this date established as Women's Equality Day.
Washington State leads the nation by being the only state with two women U.S. senators and a woman governor; and many of the leadership positions in our legislature are held by women. But like the tip of the iceberg, these stats hide a larger problem.
In 1999-2000 we led the nation with nearly 41% of our legislature made up of women. That number has been dropping and, in 2010, just 32.7% of our legislators are women (29 in the house, 19 in the senate). Depending on how things go in November, we may be back to 1991 levels at 31.9% women.
At the federal level, of course, the numbers are worse. Of 535 members of Congress this year, only 90 or 16.8% are women (and we may lose one more with Sen. Lisa Murkowski's re-election hanging by a thread). Globally, the U.S. ranks a dismal 74th in number of women worldwide serving in parliament or congress.
Getting women elected and appointed to elected office in representative numbers is fundamental to NWPC's goal of achieving political gender parity. Why does it matter?
- It's a good government issue. A diverse governing body is a stronger, more effective, more inclusive, and more representative governing body.
- It's a role model issue. Increased numbers of women in political office and women running for political office have been shown to be connected to more political discussion and involvement among women and young women.
- It's an issues issue. Women bring a different perspective and voice to the table. They have a special commitment and true understanding of issues particularly important to women. Issues like legal protections for victims of domestic violence, access to reproductive health care and birth control, the Equal Rights Amendment, trafficking and prostitution, and paid leave to name a few.
- It's an equity issue. Women make up half the population, they deserve better in their representative governing bodies.
We no longer suffer from the ballot box bias of days gone by. When women run, women win. So why aren't more women running?
For women with children at home, the slog to Olympia for the legislative session creates a childcare issue. Single moms are particularly hard hit, and the paltry salary we pay our part-time legislators makes it even tougher.
The 2012 Project is a campaign of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University that works to inspire women over 45 to run for federal and state legislative office. Women over 45 are typically advanced in their professions, have fewer family responsibilities, are more likely to be financially stable, and have deeper roots in their communities. The 2012 Project will recruit these "third act" women from eight industries critical to the nation's future: health, science and technology, finance, energy and environment, international relations, and small business.
Here in Washington the Caucus will continue to focus on identifying, recruiting, and training women of all ages to run for office!
Women typically come to office to solve a problem. But starting out as candidates, women often lack monied and influential networks men develop during their careers. NWPC's long-standing connections and established reputation help women with financial assistance and training to equip them to face the long road of running for office.
Through the NWPC Campaign Fund and donations from our members and friends, the Caucus works to support our endorsed candidates and protect our women leaders currently serving in elected office who face tough re-election campaigns.
NWPC brings the knowledge of seasoned campaigners to first-time candidates through annual campaign training, endorsement, and conference calls with experts during the campaign.
Outreach to younger women and more diverse groups of women to fill the pipeline for future runs for office continues to be a NWPC priority. This year the Caucus launched the Smart Women Salon Series: A guide to political leadership. Salons are a great way to make connections and network, and these one hour mini-training session cover topics like using social media, mentoring, volunteering on campaigns, developing your one-minute elevator speech, among others.
The NWPC exists to help level the playing field for women and provide that important network of support: the tools, the money, and the motivation women need to run and win. But the numbers don't lie and we are not moving in the right direction. We need your help.
Support women candidates. So many of us say we are passionate about getting more women elected and yet, can find reason after reason why that woman is not as good. Let's reconsider the criteria that we have been handed to determine "good" and give women a chance.
Better yet, run for office! We'll be here for you.
