Mary Kay O’Grady wrote in Wednesday Journal [Hey, Democrats, wait for me, Viewpoints, Sept. 12] that while watching the Democratic Convention, it dawned on her that women had a serious presence in politics. “Can you imagine two female Democratic presidents in a row?” she concluded. Well, yes, particularly when you consider that three of the last four Secretaries of State have been women (Albright, Rice, and Clinton).
Jennifer Homans’ book The End of Men cites two facts that make it clear women have the intellect, drive, and desire to puncture all the male ceilings that historically said, “No women need apply.”
1) For every two men who get a bachelor’s degree this year, there will be three women graduates.
2) In the 1970s, women contributed 2-6 percent of the household income; today it is 42 percent.
Women have broken the “glass ceiling” in many professions, including business, medicine, science, law and education, but one remains elusive — politics. Women hold 18 percent of the seats in the U.S. Congress, and 21 percent the Illinois State Legislature. Compared to women making up 48 percent of the entire workforce and 57 percent of professional and related occupations, political attainment is incredibly low.
Homans sees woman as particularly valuable in service industries where their superior social intelligence, open communications, and the ability to sit down and focus are important attributes. With that skill set, politics is a natural. So why do women avoid political careers, considering that women volunteer more in elections, have a natural affinity for community service, and vote more than men?
The Women and Politics Institute at American University did a study that found women:
1) perceived the political environment as biased against female candidates,
2) feared they were unqualified,
3) were less competitive and confident, and more risk-averse than men, and
4) were less likely to be offered an opportunity to run.
The first three make little sense to me. Women in business conquered those obstacles long ago. But I do believe American University is on the mark about women having fewer political opportunities. Politics operate in a man’s world and the bonded ceiling can be intimidating. Women are not the first thought in men’s heads when candidate discussion begin.
The current Oak Park village board is 14 percent women. During the last 10 years, on average, women held 20 percent of the board seats and 18 percent of commission chairmanships appointed by the village president and approved by the trustees. Bias could be a valid claim if Oak Park women were passionate voters in local elections. It is possible that they vote more than men do, but with an overall OP voting record below 20 percent, any bias argument is not strong.
Mary Kay O’Grady’s dream that we will have two female presidents of the United States is unlikely unless there are more women candidates in the selection pool from the local levels to the White House. There is simply not enough woman-power in elected office to have a major impact.
It is important that we have more women in elected office, not just to reduce the number of men in office or their influence. As a country, political discourse needs more diversity and a richer mix of ideas in solving the complexity of the 21st century. Adding more election choices to the public is a step in the direction of better government.
Be patient, Mary.
