With Hillary Clinton’s seemingly inevitable presidential bid on the horizon, Americans have been debating the merits of women in politics.
Currently, only 18.3 percent of the 113th Congress is female, still a record high for the legislative branch.
According to the 2010 U.S. Census, women slightly outnumber men in the nation, and more women voted in the 2012 election than men — 53 percent of women voted, compared with 47 percent of men.
Many Americans continue to resist the trend of women entering the political field. Often considered a boys’ club, politics has historically underrepresented American women.
In part, this can explained by choice: Women may choose not to run because political life has little appeal or because of society’s perception of women in politics.
Women in politics are frequently labeled as “b-tches” and “cold” while their male counterparts are touted as “leaders” and “assertive.” The contrast in attitudes toward men and women has prevented young women from aspiring to enter the political arena.
On the other hand, the 112th Congress was frequently considered to be the most polarized since the period of Reconstruction (the time immediately following the Civil War) and the 113th Congress hasn’t fared much better.
Immediate change is imminent and necessary for our nation to succeed. To fix our congressional ailments, we need more women in politics.
During the recent federal government shutdown, female members of Congress exhibited many characteristics Congress as a whole has been lacking: an ability to find common ground and a willingness to compromise and set aside larger-than-life egos.
Women have consistently shown they thrive in bipartisanship efforts, while men have continually demonstrated their inability to do so.
"Leadership, I must fully admit, was provided primarily from women in the Senate," said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., after the shutdown ended.
Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., courageously led the 110th Congress with a president in office of the opposing party. Texas Democrat Wendy Davis, the state senator who recently announced a bid for governor of Texas, single-handedly postponed a vote on anti-abortion legislation in the state senate. Condoleezza Rice served diligently as Secretary of State alongside President George W. Bush, while championing women’s rights across the world.
Women can provide a unique perspective and their insight is critical in all areas, especially those regarding their own reproductive rights. The leadership skills exemplified in these powerful women however have not seemed to sway the American people’s opinion on electing women into government.
Many would be surprised to hear that countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan and Cuba all have a higher percentage of women serving in their legislative bodies than those in the U.S.
Increasing the number of women in leadership positions could only boost our nation and further our strides of equality.
According to a Caliper Corporation study, female leaders have a “stronger need to get things done” and are “more willing to take risks” than their male counterparts. Furthermore, the study insisted that women are more equipped with interpersonal skills, a tool fundamental in furthering international relations.
With a Congress that's constantly stuck in stale gridlock on nearly every issue, these qualities cannot be understated.
Inspiring women and girls to become the next Condoleezza Rice or Wendy Davis should be the focal point of American politics.
With recent polls indicating that Hillary Clinton would edge out Republican presidential hopeful Gov. Chris Christie, R-N.J., in the 2016 election, this nation may encounter a radical shift in leadership qualities soon. Thus, a radical shift in attitudes is also necessary.
Voting for women in Congress is also a vote for compromise, compassion and most importantly, strong leadership.
Reach the columnist at jemeyer3@asu.edu or follow her on Twitter @JordanElizaM
