Representation of Women in Politics

Representation of Women in Politics

As young adults mature, they are likely to become interested in government and representation. Questions regarding representation and equality will begin to form and answers will have to be given. It is important for an individual to be allowed to express their opinions and ideas when problems or issues may arise. However, there have always been groups of people who do not feel that they are being adequately represented, and women are one of them. Throughout history, women have experienced issues regarding having their voices and opinions being heard and truly acted upon. As American society continues to grow and develop, thing are beginning to become more apparent regarding the influence and ideas women have to offer in society and especially politics. Many women feel that there are not enough legislative powers adequately representing them and their voices. Men, because of their gender majority in politics, have the primary decision making when it comes to passing laws, which possibly affects more lives then they realize. There becomes a question if their views and decisions are based on their thoughts and opinions or those of whom they are supposed to be representing. When discussing such issues as abortion, which clearly pertains to decisions that should also be made by women because of their immediate relation to the subject have minimal say if any because of the unequal representation. Even though America chooses to encourage other countries to build themselves around American values, America herself seems to be falling behind the times. “It ranks 52nd out of 179 countries-tied with Slovakia-in the percentage of women serving in the lower houses of national legislatures and parliaments” (Wilson 1). Yet in this male dominated political system that America has chosen to adopt, there seems to be minimal change in the ability to adequately represent women. This problem can be resolved through more women becoming involved and participating in politics to be able to better represent women in American society.

For the rest of her known existence, society in America will struggle with the idea of equality and the proper representation women should be entitled to. Though there has been an increase of females in legislative positions in recent years, it does not change the fact that there is a substantial difference between the amounts of men versus women in politics. With a representation of 364 men to 71 in representation of the members in the House of Representatives and with only 16 females in the Senate out of a possible 100, only a miniscule amount, 87 women are representatives in America’s government. (Women National) For whatever reasons, these statistics are a sad truth as to what some people believe of women. Judith Oakley wrote a book entitled Perceiving Women and has researched and come up with many ideas relating to women’s positions in politics. She writes, “Women have rarely been given or achieved formal or actual political power. Their political activity has been largely by influence an usually through male intermediary” (Okely 69). This sad yet true statement reflects a struggle woman have faced because they want to become involved.

More women in politics should represent more action for women who have felt held down when it comes to their voices being heard. Not only would these woman be able to allow the minority to be heard, they would be able to personally represent them to their fullest capability. However, there are barriers that have been placed, if not intentionally, that prevents women from becoming involved in politics. They may be hidden, but when carefully examined exhibits the truth behind the struggles that women face because they want to represent the people who are important to them.

Perhaps one of the most dominating reasons for this is the idea that politics is considered to be a man’s world to many people. Anita Hill wrote on the issue of politics still being a man’s world. She discusses the case of Elizabeth Dole, “When her husband was running for president in 1996, she was recognized as a great campaigner. There was even talk about whether she should have been the Republican nominee. But when she declared her own presidential bid in 1999, everything changed. True, the political landscape was not the same, but does that completely explain why her champions in 1996 suddenly disappeared? Her own husband undermined her candidacy when he said he wanted to send a donation to John McCain. Elizabeth Dole, like Hillary Clinton, was only popular when she was seen as a wife” (Hill 1). This presents the societal belief that women are simply supposed to run the family and cook the food to eat for when her husband arrives home from work. Allowing no stretching room for any sort of interpretation. These ideas may stem from the group that calls themselves women-bashers. This group could be disastrous for the effort to change the way things are run. They believe that women are the reason for things that go wrong and cause all the problems that occur in their lives (Sacks 203). This group does not believe nor support to cause of female representation and only further distances the goal of equality and justice.

Another viewpoint that expresses disbelief that women can be involved in politics is the idea that they are too emotional to handle the problems that they may face, and instead of handling it appropriately, will base their decisions on their feelings and emotions because they are women. This opinion is not only widely accepted, but continues to fuel the fire that distances women. However, to examine every issue that is presented before Congress that decides how America is to be run, a person must first realize where these decisions are coming from and who is making them. Not every issue can be looked at without bias and should be looked at from every angle and viewpoint before it should be decided upon. In these cases, women, may perhaps be the better choice to examine an issue regarding the people of the United States. Some decisions may not be as important to a man as it would a woman. Considered to be more open or caring, women seem a better fit to be able to make decisions regarding such things as birth control, even health care, or abortion, the innocent killing of an unborn child in the womb of a woman. What more evidence does a person need to have before they realize these kinds of decisions should lay in the hands of the people they most affect?

With many decisions being made without the consideration of the female perspective, how is it possible for people to look down on their views? Why does it seem all right for society to look down on women in political positions