Women and Politics

Some of the best advice my mom has ever given me is:

“Don’t take NO crap!”

OK so it’s not flowery or proper. And I’m pretty sure she said this over IM (instant message) about an inaccurate bill or something one day. Regardless, I think it’s an important piece of advice that all women can use (and have), no matter how old, in many life circumstances. To quote Charlotte Whitton,

“Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult.”

As we all know, this is especially true in the world of women and politics. Women have to overcome the tremendous barriers of sexism just to be taken seriously as a candidate, as well as deal with the inane attacks on their appearance (makeup and haircuts and wardrobe, oh my!). Add children into the mix, and it can create quite an uphill battle.

Luckily, tons of women have forged bravely ahead, children in tow, and risen to some of the highest levels of our government. A few mother candidates currently running (with WCF’s endorsement) are Kirsten Gillibrand, Jennifer Brunner, and Jeanette Rishell. Our own president, Sam Bennett, ran Mayoral and Congressional races with two teenage daughters and a toddler son to take care of.

And let’s not forget about all the working non-political mothers out there. Maternity leave in the United States lags behind our peer countries in both length and paid time off. And for those 10 million single mothers, that’s especially tough. Not to mention that women still only make 78 cents for every dollar earned by men. How’s a gal supposed to make ends meet here?

So on this Mother’s Day, I wish my mom’s wisdom on all women and mothers. Don’t take the sexism in politics, the unequal pay, the inadequate maternity leave, or any of the countless other inequalities presented to women. To the mothers who fight just to provide for their kids, to the activists saying “no” to inequality every day, to the women in office changing the laws to improve our lives: keep pushing. Don’t take no crap.

Tags: equal pay, fair pay, maternity leave, mothers day, mothers in politics, single mothers