Why Women (don’t) Run.
A recent meme on Instagram caught my attention – and while internet memes should rarely be trusted, this one struck a chord. The meme was called “What If We Removed Men From Political Photos: a thread.” The meme was a total of 8 photos (4 original and 4 duplicate) and it showcased how underrepresented women are in politics. The first photo was of President Obama and nine of his staff members. The second photo removed all of the men from the photo — only one staff member was left. The remaining photos in the series exhibited much of the same. Each time the men were removed from the photos, only 1-2 females were left.
I was SHOOK.
Now this isn’t to say that women aren’t represented at all. In fact, the 116th Congress holds the most female voting members in US history. The House of Representatives is 24 percent female and the Senate sits just a tad higher at 25 percent female. While this shift in female leadership has been a long time coming, it has really only taken off in the last couple of decades. Nearly two-thirds of the 325 women elected to the House of Representatives have been elected since 1992, and nearly half since 1998.
However, these numbers are still incredibly low. Women make up nearly 51 percent of the United States population, yet the percentage of female voices in positions of power is dismal.
These numbers drop even more when taking race or political affiliation into account. Republican women are even less represented and have not grown in nearly as fast as democratic women. Since 1983 the percentage of Democratic female leadership in state politics has increased from 586 to 1445, whereas Republican female leadership has only increased from 399 to 667.
But why? Is it an inherent bias? Systemic oppression? A lack of support from men? A lack of support from women? Or are women just not running for office? Honestly, I’m guessing it’s a mixture of all of the above.
As I scrolled through the instagram meme, I thought to myself “Women just need to run. Why aren’t we running? We need to be a part of the narrative!” I was fired up. But as I sat down to write this article, it dawned on me — we, as women, are constantly reminded that we don’t fit the ideal image of what a leader looks like; and that’s not just men talking.
I often think back to my first real law job after passing the bar (some funny stories, some sad, and a lot that were downright horrid). I was working for a female partner who went through associates like fake eyelashes. In the beginning I thought she was a powerhouse. Nothing made her sweat. I thought I wanted to be as tough as she was. The only problem was, she did not like me. It did not matter how hard I tried, she despised my existence. I finally realized it when she told me that she “was concerned I sounded dumb when speaking to clients on the phone.”
Can you say ouch? That one stung — and it sat with me for a long time. Did I sound dumb? Did I come off as “too nice” or “weak”?
Unfortunately, a lot of women have had similar (insert asshole boss) experiences which have caused them to shy away from their full potential. A really interesting article from When Women Run pinpoints a lot of these experiences in women who have run or held political office. The article is a conglomerate of stories from those women and discusses topics like “Did Your Appearance Become an Issue?” or “How Did the Media Talk About Your Gender?”
One of my favorite quotes is from Jenn Gray a Democrat from Alabama, who said
Women, we build these imaginary boundaries because we think that we can’t do this. But obviously, there’s a great number of idiots who are doing it. We can do it better than them. So we should just do it.
Jenn Gray
Jen is spot-on. We are capable and we deserve a spot at the table. Here are a few tips from top leaders about getting involved in politics and claiming that spot.
- Start Local
One great way to test the waters is to get involved in a local campaign. Volunteering for a local campaign should give you an understanding of the process and allow you to determine if politics is right for you. Additionally, if you decide you want to pursue a political campaign, having a solid base within your political party is a great start.
- Join the Party
If it’s a non-election year, then you can start by getting involved with your local party. Reaching out to either the local Dems or Republicans and establishing a connection with the key members in your division is important. Also consider running for a seat on your local party committee. In many states, these are elected positions which means you will get a taste of what it’s like to run for office.
- Pay Attention to Political News
Think state, national, and local. Having a general overview of the key issues in Washington is great, but having a solid grasp on your state and local issues is key to success. Think of it this way: How can you represent your community, if you don’t understand your communities’ problems, concerns and strengths? Learn the ins and outs of your local community, then learn the statewide issues and how those interplay with your borough or township. Once you have a solid grasp here, move onto the National level. Consume as much information as possible and stay well-versed in the political realm.
- Build a Presence
People vote for who they know or trust. That’s why it is incredibly important to build a positive reputation and strong ties within your community. Start with social media, scrub your online presence and brand yourself. Then start attending local council meetings and local events. The more the community sees you, the more they will remember you.
- Run for Office
Hello, Madam President. Okay, Okay, I’m getting a little ahead of myself — but, it is time to start running for office. Start small and run for school board or city council. This will contribute to building your presence in the community. Many of the top political names started in small local elections. Cory Booker (D) and Chris Christie (R) both got their start in county level office.
I think the moral of the story here is this: It doesn’t matter how small or low on the totem pole the position is — It just matters that you run. We need more female leaders and more female voices. We can do it, You can do it.
Photo Credit: Peter Olexa @deeezycom
