For women to influence government, we need to elect more women. Here’s why:
Reflective Democracy
When elected, women can demand the rights and power to have what they need; this means “being in the room”.
State legislatures are responsible for laws that govern and impact people’s everyday lives — women’s lives.
When a legislative body does not look like the people it is intended to represent, its priorities differ from, or even directly contradict, those that the general population cares about.
Women are underrepresented in political office because gatekeepers tend to pick candidates who look like them. Many examples from the current hierarchy display ignoring strong women candidates because “it is not their turn.”
With extra support, when elected, women collaborate and unify constituents.
A Woman’s Agenda
Women bring forward the needs and issues of other women – women’s health and access to reproductive health care, including abortion, violence against women and family leave – issues that men don’t even consider issues.
Women pursue expanded agendas addressing gender inequality, racial inequality, underrepresented groups; when supported, women move toward diversity and inclusion for those underrepresented groups.
Women deliver personal messages that are relevant – jobs, education, healthcare and gun violence – issues that matter to Pennsylvanians.
With extra support, when elected, women collaborate and unify constituents
Women focus on issues that need reforming – gender equity, climate change and immigration reform – issues affecting women more than men:
- Consider climate change – 80% of people displaced by global warming are women.
- Three-quarters of immigrants to this country are women
- Regarding the economy, women are over-represented in low-wage jobs and still make, on average, 80 cents for every dollar a white man makes.
