Last week the New York Times “Week in Review” ran the feature article She just might be president someday examining what type of woman America’s first woman president will be – assuming that it won’t be Hillary Clinton. Though the article contained some interesting information highlighting potential female candidates and the involvement of women in state legislatures, it painted a rather gloomy picture of what it is to be a woman in American politics:
“…Many feel dispirited by what they see as bias against Mrs. Clinton in the media — the ‘Fatal Attraction’ comparisons and locker-room chortling on television panels. ‘Who would dare to run?’ said Karen O’Connor, the director of the Women and Politics Institute at American University. ‘The media is set up against you, and if you have the money problem to begin with, why would anyone put their families through this, why would anyone put themselves through this?’ For this reason, she said, she doesn’t expect a serious [woman] contender anytime soon…”
Just a few days later the Wall Street Journal published Sex & the Sissy, an op-ed by Peggy Noonan detailing the triumphs and struggles of three women prime ministers of global acclaim: Great Britain’s Margaret Thatcher, Israel’s Golda Mier, and India’s Indira Ghandi. Noonan’s lament was exactly the opposite: “The charge of sexism is…ultimately, undermining of the position of women.”
From Noonan’s perspective, women painting portraits of themselves as victims of political sexism are, in fact, the greater problem. By highlighting Thatcher, Mier, and Ghandi, Noonan points out, “They did not use guilt to win elections — it comes up zero if you Google ‘Thatcher’ and ‘You’re just picking on me because I’m a woman.’ Instead they used the appeals men used: stronger leadership, better ideas, a superior philosophy.”
So my question for all of you is — what do you think? Are women today really, as the New York Times suggests, victims of political sexism? Or has history proven, as Noonan suggests, that not only is their little truth in current claims of political discrimination, but the women who overcame much greater struggles on the path to leading their countries never got anywhere by complaining about them?
Posted by April Green
June 2nd, 2008
When Women’s Voices Illinois was started last year, the founders of WVI used this blog to keep readers posted on their statewide efforts to reach out to Illinois women and listen to what political issues were on their minds. They soon discovered that women have a lot to say about politics – if someone would just listen. That’s what Women’s Voices Illinois is doing and continues to do as we work to engage more women in the political process.
As WVI traveled across our state, women also sent a clear message that paying attention to politics can be frustrating. We want to be informed and engaged – but when there are so many other demands on our time, we tend to tune out all the news about “politics as usual.”
Whether you’re a young professional trying to find a way to stretch a starting salary to pay your rent and student loans, fill up your gas tank, and build a credit rating - or a mom trying to stay on top of your kids’ schedules, take care of loved ones, and balance a family budget – you’re not interested in political posturing, you just want to know how the decisions legislators make impact you.
The founders of WVI took this feedback to heart after their listening tour and decided to turn this blog into a tool to communicate with women on politics in a way that is relevant, accessible, and engaging to someone who has more on their mind than the latest floor vote in Illinois General Assembly. They realized that to engage more women in politics, we have to redefine what it means to be “political.” That’s where I come in.
As a woman who has always felt strongly about having a voice in the political process, I got involved in WVI so I could get more women to do the same. Since I’m not a legislator, the founders of WVI have asked me to take charge of the blog and turn it into something unique – a political blog for women who aren’t.
I’ll be posting several times a week on the WVI blog about how political decisions can impact Illinois women, and, more importantly, how Illinois women can impact political decisions. It is WVI’s hope that with each post readers will view politics less as a source of frustration and more as an avenue through which every woman can make a difference.
Communication is a two-way street so for this blog to be a success please voice in with your opinions. Tell me what you like, what you don’t, what you want to read more of, what you never want to read again, when you think I have a point, and when you think I’m totally off base. I hope you’ll take advantage of this unique opportunity to have a candid conversation about the issues that matter most to you and redefine what it means be “political” for Illinois women.
Happy reading!
Posted by April Green
May 26th, 2008
Here's what the media is saying about the Women’s Voices Illinois Tour:
Women legislators field question from hospital nurses
Reporter Progress, IL - Oct. 25, 2007
Female lawmakers start ‘listening tour’
The State Journal Register, IL - Oct. 25, 2007
Politics must get women involved
Aurora Beacon News, IL - Oct. 25, 2007
Quincy hosts GOP women of House
Quincy Hearld Whig, IL - Oct 24, 2007
Older women kicking up their heels
Aurora Beacon News, IL - Oct 24, 2007
Female legislators urge women to get involved
Aurora Beacon News, IL - Oct 24, 2007
GOP tour stops in Elgin
The Courier News, IL - Oct 24, 2007
GOP leaders continue their women’s movement
Chicago Daily Herald, IL - Oct 23, 2007
Republican state lawmakers continue tour
Chicago Daily Herald, IL - Oct 23, 2007
GOP works to appeal to suburban women
Chicago Daily Herald, IL - Oct 22, 2007
Posted by Rep. Ruth Munson
October 28th, 2007
Had a great discussion with more than 60 nurses, technicians, administrators and doctors at Good Samaritan Hospital.
Lunch and hearty conversation with leading women in Elgin.
An emotional moment for all — While in Elgin, we joined Libby Hoeft in paying a visit to the memorial statue of our colleague Doug Hoeft.
October 26th, 2007
Day 1 - Live blogging isn’t as easy as we thought.
The end of day one (and dessert) prompts a thumbs-up from Rep. Pihos.
October 26th, 2007
The Quincy leg of the trip was great. We journeyed to Quincy in the late hours of the evening and because our much needed road projects are not complete it took a little longer than it should. However, this too can change. Those on the tour enjoyed Quincy’s historical beauty and enjoyed our mid western friendliness. I was so proud of the people of my District for just being who we are.
Posted by Rep. Jil Tracy
October 26th, 2007
College students at CLC in Grayslake took a few minutes from studying to share their concerns including the need for more multi-cultural training in our school systems to prepare students for a global marketplace.
Our next stop was a quick and casual drop-in visit with students at College of Lake County. We wanted to engage them in dialogue on the future of the State of Illinois and get a college student’s perspective on what we can do in Springfield to address these needs.
The facilities at CLC were extremely impressive. All of us know the importance community colleges plays in our education system. The students were even more impressive, many were working full time and going to school at night, or raising families during the day and juggling the intense demands of balancing their family lives and working to offer more to their children and themselves by advancing their education. Conversations varied from the challenges of transferring community college credits to four-year universities, to diversity training for teachers, to single moms juggling childcare costs and availability while returning to school. All expressed their appreciation to have the opportunity to attend such a wonderful local college.
Posted by Rep. Sandy Cole
October 23rd, 2007
Women’s Studies students at Fremd High School in Palatine asked the toughest questions, like how do we balance our lives between public service and family.
The students at Fremd High School in the Women Studies class were very engaged in hearing about how women legislators balance a career in government or leadership with their personal and family lives. Legislators shared their diverse backgrounds that lead them to their current state positions and their personal stories of how they were able to grow into their position.
It was encouraging to hear the students’ awareness of current events and answer their questions on the “moment of silence” that the General Assembly recently passed. A conversation ensued about how to raise one’s voice and concerns and take the responsibility of advocating for something one passionately believes in.
Posted by Rep. Sandy Pihos.
October 23rd, 2007
Our second stop on the tour was at Avenues to Independence is an organization that provides residential, vocational and daily living support for adults with special needs. Also housed within the same building as Avenues is “Have Dreams” – a service provider for children with autism. After touring the Have Dreams area of the facility, we met with leaders of a number of non-profit agencies that provide services to the developmentally disabled, those with mental illness and senior citizens.
The agencies shared with us some basic statistics: 1 in every 150 children will be diagnosed with autism, community-based mental health providers are caring for more individuals because of the move away from institutionalized care, and our senior population continues to grow as people live longer and the baby boomers reach retirement age. While the need for service continues to grow, these agencies are facing employee shortages. They project that in the coming years there will be more than 1/4 million positions in these agencies that will go unfilled and they project the lack of qualified employees will be one of their biggest challenges in the coming years.
The agencies referred us to a study conducted by the University of Illinois that evaluated the funding of community agencies providing services for our residents with Mental Illinois and Developmental Disabilities. They asked that we help address the findings in the report.
After a very productive meeting at a non-profit agency in Park Ridge we climbed back on to the bus to head to Fremd High School in Palatine.
October 22nd, 2007
At the CBOE in Chicago we learned that rising taxes were causing families to make different decisions about where to live and where to buy gas, clothing and other essentials.
We just completed our tour of the CBOE and heard from fourteen very successful female executives . All of these women were enjoying their careers immensely. They allowed us the opportunity to listen to their concerns about a number of issues. Specifically about education curriculum and funding equality in the public school system. They also raised concerns about putting necessary resources in place to help the needs of aging parents and loved ones. Something that surprised us was that their concern went beyond rising property taxes, but also concerns over the various tax increases proposed throughout state, city, and county governments.
October 22nd, 2007
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