women are in politics that’s not news shouldn’t be surprising that fact is not
shouldn’t be surprising that fact is not
shouldn’t be surprising that fact is not even a unique phenomenon we might even
even a unique phenomenon we might even
even a unique phenomenon we might even could all agree that women have been
could all agree that women have been
could all agree that women have been involved in politics since the Garden of
involved in politics since the Garden of
involved in politics since the Garden of Eden Eve cannot dissolve herself from
Eden Eve cannot dissolve herself from
Eden Eve cannot dissolve herself from what would be the ensuing reallocation
what would be the ensuing reallocation
what would be the ensuing reallocation of cost and benefits
of cost and benefits
of cost and benefits women have been civically astute mindful
women have been civically astute mindful
women have been civically astute mindful of community and public service
of community and public service
of community and public service politically engaged since before the
politically engaged since before the
politically engaged since before the founding of the American Democratic
founding of the American Democratic
founding of the American Democratic Republic they have stood for they have
Republic they have stood for they have
Republic they have stood for they have fought for full equal rights in 1776
fought for full equal rights in 1776
fought for full equal rights in 1776 Abigail Adams wrote a letter to her
Abigail Adams wrote a letter to her
Abigail Adams wrote a letter to her husband John Adams of the content of
husband John Adams of the content of
husband John Adams of the content of Congress in Philadelphia
Congress in Philadelphia
Congress in Philadelphia she stressed to him remember the ladies
she stressed to him remember the ladies
she stressed to him remember the ladies in your deliberations about the American
in your deliberations about the American
in your deliberations about the American experience
experience
experience we will not be bound by any laws that
we will not be bound by any laws that
we will not be bound by any laws that you’re making where we don’t have a
you’re making where we don’t have a
you’re making where we don’t have a voice or representation she hoped that
voice or representation she hoped that
voice or representation she hoped that ladies would be remembered that they
ladies would be remembered that they
ladies would be remembered that they would be involved women in society and
would be involved women in society and
would be involved women in society and not servants to men and power having a
not servants to men and power having a
not servants to men and power having a voice in politics has not come quickly
voice in politics has not come quickly
voice in politics has not come quickly it wasn’t until the 19th amendment in
it wasn’t until the 19th amendment in
it wasn’t until the 19th amendment in 1920 that women emerged as equal
1920 that women emerged as equal
1920 that women emerged as equal partners and democracy that they could
partners and democracy that they could
partners and democracy that they could actually send in positions of power when
actually send in positions of power when
actually send in positions of power when men had to take a stand today we are
men had to take a stand today we are
men had to take a stand today we are seeing more women involved in politics
seeing more women involved in politics
seeing more women involved in politics than we have ever they are fighting
than we have ever they are fighting
than we have ever they are fighting through their struggle for the vote
through their struggle for the vote
through their struggle for the vote they are electorally viable and they are
they are electorally viable and they are
they are electorally viable and they are making a difference we see women stand
making a difference we see women stand
making a difference we see women stand before our nation’s capital domes they
before our nation’s capital domes they
before our nation’s capital domes they look confidently yet getting into these
look confidently yet getting into these
look confidently yet getting into these positions of power has been very slow
positions of power has been very slow
positions of power has been very slow and women today
and women today
and women today only comprised very few of our elected
only comprised very few of our elected
only comprised very few of our elected positions only 325 women have ever
positions only 325 women have ever
positions only 325 women have ever served as the United States
served as the United States
served as the United States representative or as a United States
representative or as a United States
representative or as a United States Senator
Senator
Senator that’s only 3% of all individuals who
that’s only 3% of all individuals who
that’s only 3% of all individuals who have ever served in the Congress women
have ever served in the Congress women
have ever served in the Congress women are serving that today they are only
are serving that today they are only
are serving that today they are only 19.4% of Congress we only have four
19.4% of Congress we only have four
19.4% of Congress we only have four women who are governors and nearly 25%
women who are governors and nearly 25%
women who are governors and nearly 25% of all state legislators or women maybe
of all state legislators or women maybe
of all state legislators or women maybe you’re wondering I’ve wondered why does
you’re wondering I’ve wondered why does
you’re wondering I’ve wondered why does it matter if we have women in politics
it matter if we have women in politics
it matter if we have women in politics why does it matter should we be
why does it matter should we be
why does it matter should we be concerned that women have been gaining
concerned that women have been gaining
concerned that women have been gaining positions in politics growth glacially
positions in politics growth glacially
positions in politics growth glacially slowly no they haven’t been moving and
slowly no they haven’t been moving and
slowly no they haven’t been moving and progressing fast women have an important
progressing fast women have an important
progressing fast women have an important role because they are standing for other
role because they are standing for other
role because they are standing for other women women had n powers and in position
women women had n powers and in position
women women had n powers and in position of leadership can actually represent the
of leadership can actually represent the
of leadership can actually represent the voices of the women and our society
voices of the women and our society
voices of the women and our society their standing or others this has
their standing or others this has
their standing or others this has prompted me to ask this question why do
prompted me to ask this question why do
prompted me to ask this question why do women seek public office what motivated
women seek public office what motivated
women seek public office what motivated them to serve in politics and do women
them to serve in politics and do women
them to serve in politics and do women who are already serving in politics
who are already serving in politics
who are already serving in politics women who are currently involved are
women who are currently involved are
women who are currently involved are they role models do they have the
they role models do they have the
they role models do they have the ability to influence another generation
ability to influence another generation
ability to influence another generation of women to run for office and most
of women to run for office and most
of women to run for office and most importantly for this talk and for our
importantly for this talk and for our
importantly for this talk and for our discussion how do we get more women
discussion how do we get more women
discussion how do we get more women involved in American politics how do we
involved in American politics how do we
involved in American politics how do we get more women involved in politics
academics researchers like myself we
academics researchers like myself we spend a lot of time talking about the
spend a lot of time talking about the
spend a lot of time talking about the themes and gender in politics
themes and gender in politics
themes and gender in politics one of the first themes that we talk
one of the first themes that we talk
one of the first themes that we talk about is women’s descriptive
about is women’s descriptive
about is women’s descriptive representation their roles in our
representation their roles in our
representation their roles in our governmental system
governmental system
governmental system and the past and the career trajectories
and the past and the career trajectories
and the past and the career trajectories that they have taken to get into office
that they have taken to get into office
that they have taken to get into office we talked about how gender affects that
we talked about how gender affects that
we talked about how gender affects that decision whether they have political
decision whether they have political
decision whether they have political ambition what type of candidate they
ambition what type of candidate they
ambition what type of candidate they will be as well as the strategies they
will be as well as the strategies they
will be as well as the strategies they will employ when they’re in office a
will employ when they’re in office a
will employ when they’re in office a second theme that we talked about in
second theme that we talked about in
second theme that we talked about in gender in politics is actually the
gender in politics is actually the
gender in politics is actually the distinctive roles women play when they
distinctive roles women play when they
distinctive roles women play when they are in office what issues they will lead
are in office what issues they will lead
are in office what issues they will lead on how they will affect the government
on how they will affect the government
on how they will affect the government policies that will come out of our
policies that will come out of our
policies that will come out of our system yet connected to those two themes
system yet connected to those two themes
system yet connected to those two themes is something that is important and that
is something that is important and that
is something that is important and that is how women have a unique place for
is how women have a unique place for
is how women have a unique place for each other women can be role models
each other women can be role models
each other women can be role models women can be influential when they are
women can be influential when they are
women can be influential when they are serving women affect representation and
serving women affect representation and
serving women affect representation and women can affect policymaking deciding
women can affect policymaking deciding
women can affect policymaking deciding to run for political office is very
to run for political office is very
to run for political office is very different for women than it is for men
different for women than it is for men
different for women than it is for men in many ways that decision is structured
in many ways that decision is structured
in many ways that decision is structured by many environmental factors contextual
by many environmental factors contextual
by many environmental factors contextual factors and relational factors and I
factors and relational factors and I
factors and relational factors and I have argued through my research that the
have argued through my research that the
have argued through my research that the past women take into office are very
past women take into office are very
past women take into office are very mired but they are structured by women
mired but they are structured by women
mired but they are structured by women modeling the behavior of other women
modeling the behavior of other women
modeling the behavior of other women these women have an influence winners
these women have an influence winners
these women have an influence winners inspire imitators if women can see
inspire imitators if women can see
inspire imitators if women can see someone being politically involved and
someone being politically involved and
someone being politically involved and engaged and active if they see someone
engaged and active if they see someone
engaged and active if they see someone in the political pipeline they are
in the political pipeline they are
in the political pipeline they are encouraged to run women politicians are
encouraged to run women politicians are
encouraged to run women politicians are role models from this I have learned
role models from this I have learned
role models from this I have learned that these are not static
that these are not static
that these are not static representatives for some women it has
representatives for some women it has
representatives for some women it has been different to get involved in
been different to get involved in
been different to get involved in politics but for others they need to
politics but for others they need to
politics but for others they need to have a path and an example to follow
have a path and an example to follow
have a path and an example to follow over the course of the last couple years
over the course of the last couple years
over the course of the last couple years I have interviewed over 60 different
I have interviewed over 60 different
I have interviewed over 60 different female politicians and have asked that
female politicians and have asked that
female politicians and have asked that simple question
simple question
simple question why did you get involved in politics
why did you get involved in politics
why did you get involved in politics what motivated you and from this I built
what motivated you and from this I built
what motivated you and from this I built a typology of women and how they have
a typology of women and how they have
a typology of women and how they have advanced into politics the first one I
advanced into politics the first one I
advanced into politics the first one I would like to share with you is the
would like to share with you is the
would like to share with you is the spicy I can political pioneer these are
spicy I can political pioneer these are
spicy I can political pioneer these are women who are self-motivated they do not
women who are self-motivated they do not
women who are self-motivated they do not need anyone to encourage them to run for
need anyone to encourage them to run for
need anyone to encourage them to run for office or be engaged in politics this is
office or be engaged in politics this is
office or be engaged in politics this is Jeannette Rankin who is our first
Jeannette Rankin who is our first
Jeannette Rankin who is our first American political pioneer she was
American political pioneer she was
American political pioneer she was elected to the knight United States
elected to the knight United States
elected to the knight United States House of Representatives in 1917 she was
House of Representatives in 1917 she was
House of Representatives in 1917 she was not going to believe her prescribed role
not going to believe her prescribed role
not going to believe her prescribed role was to stay at home she stated the women
was to stay at home she stated the women
was to stay at home she stated the women were half the population we should be
were half the population we should be
were half the population we should be half the Congress and she opened the
half the Congress and she opened the
half the Congress and she opened the door for women into the United States
door for women into the United States
door for women into the United States House in the middle there is Bella Abzug
House in the middle there is Bella Abzug
House in the middle there is Bella Abzug she campaigned in the 1960s on the
she campaigned in the 1960s on the
she campaigned in the 1960s on the women’s rights platform and she
women’s rights platform and she
women’s rights platform and she campaigned stating that women belong in
campaigned stating that women belong in
campaigned stating that women belong in the house and that’s house with the
the house and that’s house with the
the house and that’s house with the capital h o USD again hear championed
capital h o USD again hear championed
capital h o USD again hear championed that she was running as a woman for
that she was running as a woman for
that she was running as a woman for women other women have become a part of
women other women have become a part of
women other women have become a part of politics because they were immersed into
politics because they were immersed into
politics because they were immersed into a public life by marriage or by birth so
a public life by marriage or by birth so
a public life by marriage or by birth so these are women who were born into
these are women who were born into
these are women who were born into politics took on the family’s role
politics took on the family’s role
politics took on the family’s role either helping their fathers or their
either helping their fathers or their
either helping their fathers or their husbands in the political world so
husbands in the political world so
husbands in the political world so Eleanor Roosevelt once stated that it’s
Eleanor Roosevelt once stated that it’s
Eleanor Roosevelt once stated that it’s the duty of a woman to be interested in
the duty of a woman to be interested in
the duty of a woman to be interested in whatever her husband is interested in
whatever her husband is interested in
whatever her husband is interested in whether that’s politics books or a
whether that’s politics books or a
whether that’s politics books or a particular dish for dinner one of the
particular dish for dinner one of the
particular dish for dinner one of the congresswoman that I spoke with who
congresswoman that I spoke with who
congresswoman that I spoke with who succeeded her husband actually stated
succeeded her husband actually stated
succeeded her husband actually stated that her husband opened the door for her
that her husband opened the door for her
that her husband opened the door for her but once she ran she was bitten by the
but once she ran she was bitten by the
but once she ran she was bitten by the political bug and she wanted to serve
political bug and she wanted to serve
political bug and she wanted to serve and make a difference two women have run
and make a difference two women have run
and make a difference two women have run for governor because their husbands
for governor because their husbands
for governor because their husbands could not run for governor again and
could not run for governor again and
could not run for governor again and that was Marian Ferguson or Ma Ferguson
that was Marian Ferguson or Ma Ferguson
that was Marian Ferguson or Ma Ferguson out of Texas and Lurleen Wallace ma
out of Texas and Lurleen Wallace ma
out of Texas and Lurleen Wallace ma Ferguson
Ferguson
Ferguson actually stated that if the Texas voters
actually stated that if the Texas voters
actually stated that if the Texas voters would vote for her she would get advice
would vote for her she would get advice
would vote for her she would get advice from her husband and Texas would get to
from her husband and Texas would get to
from her husband and Texas would get to governor’s for the price of one
governor’s for the price of one
governor’s for the price of one the third category these women are not
the third category these women are not
the third category these women are not connected and may give some acclaim to
connected and may give some acclaim to
connected and may give some acclaim to their family for motivating them in
their family for motivating them in
their family for motivating them in politics but they were inspired by
politics but they were inspired by
politics but they were inspired by someone they worked with or they were
someone they worked with or they were
someone they worked with or they were inspired by a woman they may have never
inspired by a woman they may have never
inspired by a woman they may have never met so we see here senator Susan Collins
met so we see here senator Susan Collins
met so we see here senator Susan Collins out of Maine and she actually has and
out of Maine and she actually has and
out of Maine and she actually has and holds the Senate seat from her former
holds the Senate seat from her former
holds the Senate seat from her former boss senator William Cohen and she gives
boss senator William Cohen and she gives
boss senator William Cohen and she gives a lot of discussion about he inspired
a lot of discussion about he inspired
a lot of discussion about he inspired her to run Rob early she held the seat
her to run Rob early she held the seat
her to run Rob early she held the seat that once was held by her boss
that once was held by her boss
that once was held by her boss represented Ron Dellums and she
represented Ron Dellums and she
represented Ron Dellums and she campaigned actually that she would be
campaigned actually that she would be
campaigned actually that she would be carrying on the baton another woman that
carrying on the baton another woman that
carrying on the baton another woman that I spoke with discussed how she had
I spoke with discussed how she had
I spoke with discussed how she had interned for a congressman one summer
interned for a congressman one summer
interned for a congressman one summer and that she really was impressed by the
and that she really was impressed by the
and that she really was impressed by the clout that he had in the chamber and the
clout that he had in the chamber and the
clout that he had in the chamber and the work he was doing for his people and
work he was doing for his people and
work he was doing for his people and that showed that she wanted to do the
that showed that she wanted to do the
that showed that she wanted to do the exact same thing
exact same thing
exact same thing these women are politically inspired
these women are politically inspired
these women are politically inspired adherence to those mentors the final
adherence to those mentors the final
adherence to those mentors the final category her ladies political Protege so
category her ladies political Protege so
category her ladies political Protege so much of the political conscience of
much of the political conscience of
much of the political conscience of these women is stemmed from actual the
these women is stemmed from actual the
these women is stemmed from actual the encouragement of seeing a woman succeed
encouragement of seeing a woman succeed
encouragement of seeing a woman succeed in politics these women follow some of
in politics these women follow some of
in politics these women follow some of them the exact path of another woman
them the exact path of another woman
them the exact path of another woman into political office
Margaret chase Smith shirley Chisholm
Margaret chase Smith shirley Chisholm Barbara Jordan Patricia Schroeder these
Barbara Jordan Patricia Schroeder these
Barbara Jordan Patricia Schroeder these are congressional women who were role
are congressional women who were role
are congressional women who were role models for others
models for others
models for others senators Olympia Snowe and Senator Susan
senators Olympia Snowe and Senator Susan
senators Olympia Snowe and Senator Susan Collins remain both credit Margaret
Collins remain both credit Margaret
Collins remain both credit Margaret chase Smith as the reason why they were
chase Smith as the reason why they were
chase Smith as the reason why they were running for office that she had opened
running for office that she had opened
running for office that she had opened the door in Maine for them to be
the door in Maine for them to be
the door in Maine for them to be involved diana deject her trail to
involved diana deject her trail to
involved diana deject her trail to political office was blaze right after
political office was blaze right after
political office was blaze right after her role model Patricia Schroeder
her role model Patricia Schroeder
her role model Patricia Schroeder when Patricia shredder decided to retire
when Patricia shredder decided to retire
when Patricia shredder decided to retire she endorsed Diana to jet and at a press
she endorsed Diana to jet and at a press
she endorsed Diana to jet and at a press conference in Denver in 1996
conference in Denver in 1996
conference in Denver in 1996 representative Schroeder told Diana to
representative Schroeder told Diana to
representative Schroeder told Diana to jet here are my congressional shoes and
jet here are my congressional shoes and
jet here are my congressional shoes and Diana’s response was I feel like
Diana’s response was I feel like
Diana’s response was I feel like Cinderella her ambitions to be involved
Cinderella her ambitions to be involved
Cinderella her ambitions to be involved in politics they followed just by taking
in politics they followed just by taking
in politics they followed just by taking the shoes of one lady and then each step
the shoes of one lady and then each step
the shoes of one lady and then each step she had to Congress Diana DeGette is
she had to Congress Diana DeGette is
she had to Congress Diana DeGette is referred to in many ways today as the
referred to in many ways today as the
referred to in many ways today as the Schroeder clone women who have been
Schroeder clone women who have been
Schroeder clone women who have been successful in politics create a path by
successful in politics create a path by
successful in politics create a path by which other women can follow but women
which other women can follow but women
which other women can follow but women don’t need just to have a role model
don’t need just to have a role model
don’t need just to have a role model they’re gonna look too partisan wins the
they’re gonna look too partisan wins the
they’re gonna look too partisan wins the political environment they’re gonna
political environment they’re gonna
political environment they’re gonna actually think of the relationships
actually think of the relationships
actually think of the relationships around them and whether they should run
around them and whether they should run
around them and whether they should run or not but they will think of those who
or not but they will think of those who
or not but they will think of those who have been successful before them they
have been successful before them they
have been successful before them they will think about the path that has
will think about the path that has
will think about the path that has already been blazed and they will model
already been blazed and they will model
already been blazed and they will model their career choice to run for office
their career choice to run for office
their career choice to run for office after many of these women understanding
after many of these women understanding
after many of these women understanding what motivates women to run for office
what motivates women to run for office
what motivates women to run for office helps us to understand our
helps us to understand our
helps us to understand our representative government it helps us to
representative government it helps us to
representative government it helps us to understand who’s involved but it’s more
understand who’s involved but it’s more
understand who’s involved but it’s more than that
understanding role models and the impact
understanding role models and the impact they have on politics has always
they have on politics has always
they have on politics has always fascinated me and it’s very personal as
fascinated me and it’s very personal as
fascinated me and it’s very personal as a young woman I was very fascinated
a young woman I was very fascinated
a young woman I was very fascinated about politics and wanted to get
about politics and wanted to get
about politics and wanted to get involved and I started my legislative
involved and I started my legislative
involved and I started my legislative career as an intern in the Georgia
career as an intern in the Georgia
career as an intern in the Georgia General Assembly and then I was
General Assembly and then I was
General Assembly and then I was fortunate to move on and work for
fortunate to move on and work for
fortunate to move on and work for congressmen and while I was there I
congressmen and while I was there I
congressmen and while I was there I realized that the system is still full
realized that the system is still full
realized that the system is still full of the good-old-boy domination of
of the good-old-boy domination of
of the good-old-boy domination of politics women were there and they had
politics women were there and they had
politics women were there and they had seats as representatives or senators or
seats as representatives or senators or
seats as representatives or senators or lobbyists or legislative assistants but
lobbyists or legislative assistants but
lobbyists or legislative assistants but they were not in the inner circles of
they were not in the inner circles of
they were not in the inner circles of policy decision
policy decision
policy decision they were siloed to certain areas
they were siloed to certain areas
they were siloed to certain areas specific expertise and I said why are
specific expertise and I said why are
specific expertise and I said why are they here given this climate why are
they here given this climate why are
they here given this climate why are they putting themself before the public
they putting themself before the public
they putting themself before the public to serve what is it that is truly
to serve what is it that is truly
to serve what is it that is truly motivating them would I find a woman who
motivating them would I find a woman who
motivating them would I find a woman who can inspire me could I find a mentor who
can inspire me could I find a mentor who
can inspire me could I find a mentor who would walk me through what it would take
would walk me through what it would take
would walk me through what it would take to be a candidate for office as well I
to be a candidate for office as well I
to be a candidate for office as well I said are there women here who are
said are there women here who are
said are there women here who are encouraging other women and I did find a
encouraging other women and I did find a
encouraging other women and I did find a mentor but she was in higher education
mentor but she was in higher education
mentor but she was in higher education and she was a professor he sparked all
and she was a professor he sparked all
and she was a professor he sparked all of my intellectual curiosity ‘he’s more
of my intellectual curiosity ‘he’s more
of my intellectual curiosity ‘he’s more about politics and she also said to me
about politics and she also said to me
about politics and she also said to me please go and interview more women in
please go and interview more women in
please go and interview more women in politics than you will learn from them
politics than you will learn from them
politics than you will learn from them if we have female role models we are
if we have female role models we are
if we have female role models we are more likely as women to run for office
more likely as women to run for office
more likely as women to run for office we will be inspired we will be
we will be inspired we will be
we will be inspired we will be encouraged we will see the symbolism the
encouraged we will see the symbolism the
encouraged we will see the symbolism the acceptance of those other women in
acceptance of those other women in
acceptance of those other women in politics and we will run now you might
politics and we will run now you might
politics and we will run now you might ask well dr. Owen are you gonna run for
ask well dr. Owen are you gonna run for
ask well dr. Owen are you gonna run for office one day not so sure but I know
office one day not so sure but I know
office one day not so sure but I know that there are women out there I can
that there are women out there I can
that there are women out there I can look to who can inspire me and we have
look to who can inspire me and we have
look to who can inspire me and we have to get rid of seeing the Mean Girls and
to get rid of seeing the Mean Girls and
to get rid of seeing the Mean Girls and being a part of a mean-girl culture to
being a part of a mean-girl culture to
being a part of a mean-girl culture to one another we have to find women who
one another we have to find women who
one another we have to find women who will lift us up encouraged us to take
will lift us up encouraged us to take
will lift us up encouraged us to take the next step remember that every woman
the next step remember that every woman
the next step remember that every woman we see run for political office she is
we see run for political office she is
we see run for political office she is making a step a small step for some a
making a step a small step for some a
making a step a small step for some a large step for others but she is making
large step for others but she is making
large step for others but she is making a step to encourage more women to run
a step to encourage more women to run
a step to encourage more women to run and if we can find a mentor if we can
and if we can find a mentor if we can
and if we can find a mentor if we can find a role model that inspires us then
find a role model that inspires us then
find a role model that inspires us then we can take those winning examples to
we can take those winning examples to
we can take those winning examples to other girls and ladies and inspire them
other girls and ladies and inspire them
other girls and ladies and inspire them to be involved in politics because it’s
to be involved in politics because it’s
to be involved in politics because it’s not about encouraging women it’s not
not about encouraging women it’s not
not about encouraging women it’s not just about women in math and sciences
just about women in math and sciences
just about women in math and sciences it’s about women in politics and women
it’s about women in politics and women
it’s about women in politics and women engaged because women who are
engaged because women who are
engaged because women who are politics and women who are engaged can
politics and women who are engaged can
politics and women who are engaged can really shape our public the public
really shape our public the public
really shape our public the public discourse and our features thank you
”
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