David Broder’s recent column in the Washington Post made me flash back to the final days of the 103rd Congress. I was working for the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues and there was a strong interest in demonstrating that the 22 women elected to Congress during 1992 or “Year of the Women” had made an important difference in the types of bills that were introduced and passed. The Women’s Caucus did some analysis and learned that there were an unprecedented number of bills – introduced as well as passed by the 103rd Congress – focused on issues important to women and families.
That analysis, done 12 years ago by the Women’s Caucus, was an important illustration that not only do women in office make a difference, but the number of women in office makes an even bigger difference. We can thank Pat Schroeder and Olympia Snowe, who were the Women’s Caucus Co-Chairs then, for that first-ever documentation.
The Women’s Foundation reported similar findings in our 2003 report – A Portrait of Women & Girls in the Washington Metropolitan Area. The report also includes an ambitious set of recommendations for investing in women and girls in our region. One recommendation, in particular, urges that there be stronger investments in women’s leadership at all levels.
With the general elections three weeks away, transition teams are being assembled across the Washington region and a quiet debate among women’s advocates is happening. Some are questioning whether it is still important for us to put together a slate of women who are qualified to serve in cabinet positions and on local boards and commissions. It is puzzling after all these years of us knowing that the number of women makes a critical difference that questions are being raised.
Should we develop a slate of only women prospects? Yes! Advocates for women should identify and promote well-qualified women for key appointed offices. Not all will make it, but no newly elected or re-elected mayor, county executive, state office holder, or member of congress should be able to say that a qualified woman wasn’t identified for every key post.
