By Senator Sharon Grosfeld

Since 1964, women have voted in higher numbers than men at every election.  More women register to vote than men and women comprise a higher number of undecided and swing voters than men, often making up their minds later in the process.   The United States is also seeing more single women coming to the polls than ever before.  There are approximately 53 million single women in the U.S., more than a quarter of the electorate, and on par with the number of married women.  In Iowa during 2006, 28% of the voters were single women which is larger than their 22% portion of the population in that state.

The “gender gap” in voting reflects the strong belief amongst most women that the laws enacted on the federal, state and local levels impact their lives in profound ways, and as such women have a very personal stake in the outcome of elections.  But does this vested interest translate into generating more women candidates to run for political office?  

According to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, in 2009, 17 or 17% of the U.S. Senate is comprised of female senators, and 73 (plus 3 non-voting members) or 16.8% of the 435 members of the House of Representatives are women.  On the state level, 24.3% of women fill government halls throughout the country, with Colorado at 39%, the highest level of women sitting in a state legislative body, and South Carolina filling the fewest seats at 10%.  There are only 8 female governors and one may be leaving to take the helm as Secretary of Health and Human Services.  (Visit:www.cawp.rutgers.edu/fast_facts/levels_of_office/documents/elective.pdf)

Though the numbers of elected women are small, change is on the horizon, in large part due to the recent presidential election and the women themselves, namely the two running for office and those helping to elect them, forever changing the political spectrum.  The young women coming of age and into their own, these high school, college and graduate students, workers, military members, career builders, corporate executives, single, married, and even some widowed, mothers, fortunate and struggling, have all seen more than at any other time in our history that women can run for office and succeed.  The wise women who paved the way for those middle-aged and younger women to break not only glass ceilings, but concrete ones as well, carrying banners demanding equal rights, stuffing envelopes, those mothers, wives, sisters and friends, lesbian, straight and transgendered, all see the potential for women in politics as infinite.  In addition, the general public has become more accepting of women living on their own and pursuing high powered careers.  Indeed, the rate of women living on their own is now around 51%.

Women have changed society by becoming much more involved in all aspects of social, political and economic life, taking on roles that traditionally excluded them.  This is not to say that women have gained equality with men, or that stereotypical expectations have disappeared completely.  It simply indicates that women are becoming more independent and freer to make decisions that benefit them personally, rather than choosing a particular lifestyle in order to fulfill a societal norm or expectation.

Women are finally internalizing the fact that they are just as capable as men, and may even have greater political acumen, higher ethical standards, and strong leadership skills based.  As such, they are more willing than ever before to take the chance and run for elective office.  Young women have been growing up during a time when more women are entering political life while also raising children, and recognize that the stereotypes that used to define women’s roles are not only obsolete, but grounds for rebuke.   Training grounds are springing up at university campuses throughout the country focusing on teaching women the basics of campaigning and encouraging women to be engaged in every level of government and campaigns.  Politics has become a legitimate career goal for women as it has long been for men, and the resources are becoming available to assist women in their pursuit for public office.  Women are becoming competitive fund raisers as well and are giving men a real run for their money.

So, young women need to rise up.  In addition to voting, they need to be activists and run for office.  They also need to consider going to law school and secure women’s rights by becoming state, federal and Supreme Court justices.  Women know what needs to be done to get there.  It is not going to be easy, but women are leaders, capable and ready for the challenge ahead.