A Woman’s Place Is Still In the House

This month’s statewide election results in Virginia remind me that a woman’s place is still in the house. Not in the figurative sense but in the political environment.

For the first time in almost twenty years, there was a woman running for statewide constitutional office. Former state treasurer Jody Wagner mounted an 18-month campaign taking on incumbent Bolling. While unsuccessful in her bid, her attempt is a call to action for any aspiring candidate, particularly in Virginia where the presence of women in the state house has declined markedly. In short, it should be a reminder for women to mobilize and further engage in our communities.

In fact, the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University reported that less than 20 percent of the state house in Virginia is comprised of women. At this time, there are no women represented at the congressional level (see chart).

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Center for American Women and Politics, Rutgers University www.cawp.rutgers.edu

The focus for women who want to chart a path to the statehouse or other elected positions should be as follows:

  1. Get started where you are – cause, constituency, concern
  2. Message – be consistent, clear, and constant
  3. Rally your base – collaborate with others, cultivate allies, and reinforce supporters
  4. Research – learn from past egregious errors and re-group with customized strategy
  5. Connect – find meaningful ways to connect with your audience, constituencies, and allies

As a former elected school board member and community activist, I learned along the way key strategies to have meaningful impact. My civic engagement began as I came into adulthood just after the women’s and Civil Rights movements. Many paved the way for me to even have a voice in the room or seat at any table. Working within the church from an early age and fulfilling high school service requirements made all the difference in the world.

Women will have a meaningful impact as they aspire to the public service. With a few key concepts in mind an woman’s place will continue to be in the statehouse.

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