|
Imagine the searching
looks of schoolchildren taking their first tour of the
Massachusetts State House. The marble dazzles. The murals
instruct. And the historic portraits inspire future
greatness. Young boys looking up at the faces of past
leaders have no trouble relating to the images surrounding
them. In these portraits, they can see their futures.
But what about young girls? Of the 119 portraits in
the State House art collection, just one is of a woman
a portrait of Esther Andrews, the first woman elected
to the Governor’s Council. It hangs in the Council’s
office and is not available for public viewing.
That is about
to change. Now, young girls touring the State House
will pass by a tangible symbol of women’s leadership.
They will see the portrait of Governor Jane Swift hanging
beside generations of men who have served in the state’s
highest office.
Regardless
of political party or ideology, Swift’s portrait sends
a vital message about the importance of electing women
to public office. But one gubernatorial portrait on
the walls of the State House is not enough. Women make
up 52% of the Commonwealth’s population but only 25%
of its legislature. Eighteen states have more women
in their legislatures than we do. In the entire history
of Massachusetts we have sent just three women to Congress,
and none to the United State Senate. No Massachusetts
woman has been sent to Washington since 1983. At the
state level, only one woman currently serves in office.
We can do better.
We must do better. This means that more women must run
for office – for school committee, governor, and everything
in between. While men pursue political careers with
little prodding, women feel they need to be asked before
throwing their hats in the ring. Women of Massachusetts,
consider yourselves asked.
We are about
to enter an election year. Contests will be held at
virtually every level of government. Run for something.
You don’t have to go it alone – many organizations offer
training on how to run for office, advice on raising
money, volunteers to help with voter outreach, and briefings
on public policy.
Here are a
few recommendations:
1. Own your
own ambition. Don’t wait to be asked to run for office.
And if you know a woman in your community who you think
could make a difference, ask her to run.
2. Be prepared.
As a candidate, you’ll have to confront preconceptions
and implement strategies that prove that the old stereotypes
don’t apply to you.
3. Focus on
more than “kitchen table topics.” Women candidates must
demonstrate to voters that they can deal with budgets
and with issues such as public safety and economic security.
To the bright,
articulate, accomplished women of Massachusetts: accept
this challenge. Don’t leave Governor Swift’s portrait
to serve as the lone example of women in public office
at the State House. Make 2006 the year that women take
over Beacon Hill.
In the meantime,
let’s move Esther Andrew’s portrait to someplace where
schoolgirls can see it.
Mary
Fifield is the president of the Board of the
Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus.
Barbara
Lee is principal of the Barbara Lee Family
Foundation in Cambridge.
*Reprinted
with permission of the author, Mary Fifield.
|
