100 Indiana Women Celebrate Spring With Politics

Amid the spring blossoms and stately halls of the Indiana University campus in Bloomington, nearly 100 members and guests of the Indiana Democratic Women’s Caucus Political Action Committee enjoyed an evening of politics on Saturday, March 28^th.  Former Vermont Governor and author of Pearls, Politics & Power, Madeleine Kunin, was the keynote speaker who gave a strong inspiring speech that sounded more like passion, persistence and a bit of persuasion.

The Governor talked about her journey into politics and described how when she was first elected governor in 1985, she believed “the floodgates would open for women.”  “I assumed there would be other women but I was wrong; not a lot of women marched in that (politics) parade,” said Kunin.  She was first inspired to run for the Vermont state legislature in 1972 after becoming frustrated knocking on legislators’ doors from the outside.  “I thought why don’t I get to work on our issues from the inside.”

After 35 years of political activism, Governor Kunin’s goal is to reach a new generation of women.  “We have vibrant role models living in our midst,” and they inspire women to become leaders, said Kunin.  “We can no longer sit on the sidelines; parents are now telling their daughters “you can do anything.”

Governor Kunin has spent time searching for answers to the question “why aren’t there more women running for office? And what is it that makes some women decide to step over the line to run, while others do not?”  She believes many women are afraid of the political system and often have an inner hesitancy about politics.  There’s also the issue of gender stereotyping and that many women, while wanting to become involved, prefer to remain behind the scenes.

“We have to encourage young women to express themselves; we have to reach into high schools and colleges and help young women develop skills to boost their confidence,” said Kunin.  They need to be encouraged to develop public speaking and debate skills along with leadership training.”

Governor Kunin ended her speech with the disturbing facts describing how the United States is lagging behind the world in women’s political involvement.  She even cited Rwanda’s women who now hold 48.8% of the seats in the lower house of Parliament. Rwandan female leaders have cited the need to become politically involved for the survival of their children.

Madeleine Kunin issued a parting challenge and words of inspiration to the Indiana Women’s Political Caucus and their guests: “take the step, into the world of politics, for the survival of our world and our children.”

To learn more about our join the Indiana Democratic Women’s Caucus, visit:  www.democraticwomenscaucus.org.