Fem Dems of the Sacramento Region

A need for women candidates at the local level

2012-01-29T19:57:00.000-08:00

The LA Daily News has joined the growing chorus of concerns regarding the falling number of women in State office. The editorial published yesterday, "More Women Needed in Office," rightly notes that a primary hurdle to populating the State Legislative offices with women is the "shortage of women officeholders on...the local level." This editorial comes on the heels of a Sacramento Bee front page story raising the alarm on the decreasing number of women we are likely to see in the Capitol at the conclusion of the 2012 election year as term limits “are expected to cause the number of women elected to state office to drop for the third consecutive cycle.”

This is precisely why the Fem Dems of Sacramento PAC is hosting a candidate training Boot Camp for women running for, or interested in running for, local offices. A farm team is crucial to moving women up the pipeline to higher office. In order to see more women in office, we need more women to put their names on the ballot.

It is not too late to be a candidate in the June 5th, 2012 primary. Potential candidates should consider attending the Fem Dems Candidate Training Boot Camp on Saturday, March 3. California’s foremost political professionals will headline a series of panel discussions and workshops on fundraising, finance, election finance law, messaging and grassroots organizing.

Information may be obtained at www.femdems.org or by emailing info@femdems.org.

Why Don't We Have More Women in Public Office? Look at Who's Running the Campaigns

2011-05-24T09:46:00.000-07:00

By: Yashar Ali via the Huffington Post | May 23, 2011

Every election season, I ask myself the same question: Why aren't more women running for public office?

Over the past ten years, I have been hopeful for the prospect and rise of women political candidates. While I never studied the numbers, I felt like we were heading in the right direction.

I couldn't be more wrong.

Reporter Kate Linthicum's brilliant Los Angeles Timesarticle sheds light on the City of Los Angeles' problem with proper female representation on the city council. The fifteen-member council, which had five female members eleven years ago, may soon have no female representation.

Current statistics about women holding federal office are equally dismal: women hold fewer than 20 percent of House and Senate seats. The House faced its first decline in 30 years with respect to women members.

Women hold fewer than 25 percent of seats in state legislatures. This sort of decline has not been seen in decades.

Why are we slipping back after so many years of slow but steady progress?

There exist real obstacles for prospective women politicians: media bias, lack of financial support, mediocre recruitment efforts, underfunded organizations built to help women run for public office.

I want to introduce a not-so-prominent problem: the serious deficiency of women in senior positions on political campaigns. With the exception of political fundraisers, you find very few women running campaigns or serving in top management spots.

The absence of women operating behind the scenes of political campaigns has been largely ignored. This is made clear by the complete absence of studies tracking the numbers of women working in politics. Open your newspaper and turn on your TV. You usually hear a senior-level male staffer speaking for candidates.

This isn't just about my ideology. This is personal for me.

For the past two and half years, I worked for California Lieutenant Governor and former San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. In my last position with him, I managed his 2010 race for Lieutenant Governor.

Lieutenant Governor Newsom and his wife, actress and documentary filmmaker, Jennifer Siebel Newsom (check out her brilliant documentary about women's under-representation in positions of power and the limited and often disparaging portrayal of women in the media) expressed in this campaign their frustration and concern about the lack of women working on his campaigns.

Lieutenant Governor Newsom always asked, when we made hiring decisions, whether we could fill these posts with qualified women. This was not just a question for him. In his first year as mayor, he appointed San Francisco's first female police chief and fire chief. He was also the first mayor to initiate gender analysis of budget cuts.

But I couldn't find available and qualified women to take senior positions in his campaign. The few women I did know were already working on other campaigns.

Shawnda Westly, Executive Director of the California Democratic Party, saw a need to fix this problem in California. She, along with her colleague Robin Swanson, put their money where their mouth is, and launched a website called Political Women California.

Political Women California delivers a simple, but powerful mission: to give women working in politics a place to post their resumes so employers can find and hire them for campaigns, elections and political positions throughout California -- and across the country.

Their site has been flooded with postings from women already working in politics in California. Even though I am not in the business of managing campaigns anymore, it helped me realize how many women are trying to work in politics.

Usually, people run for office after being exposed to a political campaign in one way or another. So the question is: how do we expect young women to motivate themselves to run for public office when all the people running campaigns are men?

This issue is not limited to Democrats. We need more women working on campaigns and in elective office across the political spectrum. Both parties should see the benefit of female leadership. But drawing from my personal experience, I want to speak to Democrats: There is no excuse. How can we demand equality for women in the workplace and fair wage laws, when we can't manage to hire women for the campaigns professing these issues?

I spent the better part of two years working tirelessly for Hillary Clinton in her bid to be the 44th President of the United States. My passion for her candidacy was primarily based on my belief that she was the most qualified candidate for president. I felt her unique combination of experiences would serve our country incredibly well.

But there was another strong factor for my motivation. One I will not apologize for. I really wanted a woman president.

The dream I have for a woman president is not dead. However, if we don't make conscious efforts to hire more women on political campaigns, we are not only limiting our talent pool, but we are also facing an epidemic shortage of women running for office.

We must demand that candidates we support value diversity in their hiring practices. So, my message is for two people: the candidate and the campaign manager.

Next time you are walking through your campaign headquarters, take a look at the young woman who shows up everyday after her classes to volunteer. The same one who always pays her own way on public transportation to make phone calls and to help knock on doors. The same one that you are impressed by and think is better than half your paid staff. And probably the same one you take for granted. She may be president one day... if you give her a chance.

Follow Yashar Ali on Twitter: www.twitter.com/yasharh

Great article about Mother's Day

2011-05-09T09:28:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day is more than a greeting-card holiday

By Karen D'Souza | 05/06/2011 | Mercury News

Forget about candy and flowers. If you want to celebrate the true spirit of Mother's Day, you'd be better off marching in a rally or writing a letter to your congressman.

Certainly there's nothing wrong with cherished traditions such as going out to a chi-chi champagne brunch or giving your mother a strand of pearls. However, in honor of Mom's big day, we thought it was high time to revisit just why the holiday began in the first place. It's one of the forgotten chapters of women's history that Mother's Day got its start as an antiwar protest. It was supposed to be all about peace, not pampering.

For the record, the notion of celebrating motherhood may be as old as civilization itself. The ancient Egyptians had a special day of worship for the goddess Isis, the mother of the pharaohs. But the concept behind Mother's Day in America has very specific origins, forged in the chaos and crises of a nation reeling from war.

Famous for writing the patriotic anthem "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," Julia Ward Howe later became aghast at the carnage of the Civil War. She wanted women to join forces to stop their sons from ever going off to die again. In 1870, she issued what she called her Mother's Day Proclamation.

"Disarm! Disarm! The sword of murder is not the balance of justice," she wrote. "Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn all that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience."

It wasn't so much a celebration as a clarion call -- a battle hymn for a better republic, if you will.

"Women in the 19th century took their role as moral guardians seriously," says Estelle Freedman, professor of U.S. history at Stanford University. "They thought of themselves not just as mothers in the home but as mothers of humanity, mothers of civilization. They were very active in social reform, and the need to vote, the suffrage movement, sprang out of that activism."

Somehow over the years, the origins of the day got overshadowed. In fact, one of the early champions of Mother's Day, Anna Jarvis, spent every last penny of her fortune to stop what she perceived as the crass commercialization of the occasion. Jarvis had taken up the crusade out of love for her own mother, who had worked, under the auspices of a "Mother's Friendship Day," to reunite families divided during the Civil War.

It was Jarvis who came up with the carnation as the official flower for Mom, and she who fought to get the day recognized as a national holiday; it was in 1914. But by the '20s, she was appalled that the holiday had been hijacked by purveyors of cheap sentimentality. She died in 1948, embittered and penniless, and was buried next to her mother in a Pennsylvania cemetery.

"It's deteriorated into a token sentimental gesture, a day where women get taken out to eat. But that's not at all what Ward Howe intended," says Freedman, who specializes in women's history. "It was supposed to be a mix of honoring women in the domestic sphere and honoring women in the world."

While we often think of Mom as the ultimate icon of home and hearth, not a rabble-rouser taking to the streets, some say we have overlooked the fact that a mother's love for her family naturally extends beyond the scope of her minivan. That's because the destiny of her children is inextricably entwined with the state of the world, from foreign policy to environmental issues.

"We've forgotten that political issues matter deeply to mothers, and we've silenced and marginalized their voices," says Lisa Harper, author of "A Double Life: Discovering Motherhood." "Instead of being the day when mothers speak up and are listened to in the public sphere, Mother's Day has become one when we stay in bed or are whisked off to private celebrations. Mothers have lost their day as a time to come together, with a public voice and a powerful political agenda. Maybe it's time we brought this platform back."

To be sure, many activists still revere Ward Howe's call to arms. Code Pink cites her poem on its website. Filmmaker Robert Greenwald drew attention to the roots of the day in his short film "Mother's Day for Peace," in which celebs such as Vanessa Williams, Felicity Huffman and Gloria Steinem do a dramatic reading of the proclamation. But for most Americans, the occasion has lost its teeth entirely.

So why is this milestone in women's history so little known? Why do we all remember to buy a present (or at least a card, if we're pressed for time), but no one remembers the point of it all?

"It's about who tells the story. That's who shapes our notions of history. Women do not tell the stories," says Katie Orenstein, founder of New York's OpEd Project. "Whoever controls the story controls the central conversations of our age. That's who narrates the world. That's who assigns meaning to the events in our lives. That's who has a voice."

Certainly the conversation about what Mother's Day stands for also has been steered by businesses eager to sell stuff. According to the National Retail Federation, Mother's Day generates about $14 billion in spending. If instead, mothers simply talked politics over a cup of tea, there would be a whole lot less ka-ching involved.

Jarvis, for one, lambasted the greeting card routine: "A printed card means nothing except that you are too lazy to write to the woman who has done more for you than anyone in the world."

Mothers today are a little torn about what the holiday means, what it ought to mean and how best to celebrate it. Some say that hardworking moms more than deserve a little appreciation. They think it's all right that insight takes a back seat to indulgence, in this instance.

"Moms today, and probably forever, do so much for everyone in their families all the time, making sacrifices on a daily basis to care for their children in so many ways, that a day to say, 'Thanks, we appreciate you' is a nice thing," says Lisa Mallette, a mother of two, who lives in San Mateo. "I, for one, appreciate a day with feet up, bonbons and flowers."

Others are saddened that the holiday has lost its substance. They fear that mothers have given up a valuable opportunity to have their voices heard.

"I'm all for celebrating mothers and their work, and I love a beautiful bunch of flowers and chocolate any day of the year (also jewelry). But the commercialization of Mother's Day sentimentalizes women's work and reduces mothering to a private, domestic affair," says Harper, a mother of two who lives in Redwood City.

"So, rather than whisking us off to private brunches this year, put our voices on the front page. ... I would love to sleep in. But I might love even more a day to be listened to."

Perhaps there is some way to combine the two impulses. Why not mull over the state of the nation while sipping mimosas? Maybe mothers can be empowered and appreciated at the same time. After all, moms are masters at multi-tasking. If women can check email and breast-feed at the same time, they can do anything.

Certainly as the nation once again finds itself mired in the uncertainty and terror of ongoing wars, and as we contemplate the possibility of putting yet more boots on the ground, Ward Howe's rallying cry reverberates as loudly as ever. And it's not the kind of sentiment you find in a greeting card.

"Why are we not in the streets?" she asked so many decades ago. "Why do not the mothers of mankind interfere in these matters to prevent the waste of that human life of which they alone bear and know the cost?"

Spring Reception! Thursday April 28th

2011-04-22T09:50:00.000-07:00

The Fem Dems of Sacramento invites you to attend the

2011 Fem Dems Spring Reception

and Silent Auction

Thursday, April 28th at 6pm

to be held at the Barton Art Gallery at 1723 I Street,

Sacramento.

We are pleased to award Speaker pro Tempore Fiona Ma the Honorary Fem Dem of the Year award for her tireless advocacy of electing women to office.
The Fem Dems is an organization dedicated to increasing the opportunities for women to get involved in all levels of politics. From civic participation and leadership development programs, to running and being elected for public office, we believe that our State urgently needs more representation by women.
The 2011 Fem Dems Spring Reception and Silent Auction will celebrate Democratic women in politics and will be an excellent opportunity for women to meet, connect, and network for opportunities to support each other. Proceeds from the event will go to two new initiatives to support the cause of gender parity in politics:
The new Fem Dems PAC, which will support women candidates in their campaigns for elected office; and
A comprehensive, on-line directory of women in the business of getting Democratic women elected. We are pleased to provide this unique service free to the public to showcase the many women-owned political consulting, polling, fundraising and lobbying firms that have trail- blazed in this traditionally male profession. This wonderful resource will help women candidates and candidates who support women’s rights find a winning campaign team!

We hope that you can attend this event.

Please contact the Event Chair, Amber Maltbie, at amber.maltbie@gmail.com or (510) 435-9468 with any questions.

Fem Dems of Sacramento invite you

2010-06-21T10:50:00.000-07:00

The Fem Dems of the Sacramento Region invite you to a Happy Hour supporting

Dr. Ami Bera, Candidate for Congress (CA-3)

* * * * * * * * * * * * *
When: Thu, June 24, 6:00pm – 7:30pm

Where: Lounge on 20 - 1050 20th Street, Sacramento, CA
* * * * * * * * * * * * *

CLICK HERE TO RSVP ON FACEBOOK!

With Hosts:

Sacramento Stonewall Democrats

Sacramento Young Democrats

Ryan McElhinney

Jeff Dorso

Amber Maltbie

Christina Lokke

Hatzune Aguilar

Kathryn Nelson

Kelly Rivas

Melissa Vargas

Nichole Petter

Ronak Daylam

Cynthia Guerrero

Tiffany Mok

Kate Enos

Cindy Marroquin

Jennifer Thompson

Udochi Okeke

Mariko Yoshihara

Pat Dennis

Pamela Bachilla

Brian Rivas

Eric Guerra

Rachel Linn

Igor Tregub

Vernon Billy

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Host Committee $50

Individual Tickets $25

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Please RSVP at your earliest convenience to Erin Mincberg aterin@beraforcongress.com or 916-686-5244.

Contributions to Bera for Congress are not tax deductible for federal income tax purposes. Contributions are limited to $2,400 per person for the 2010 Primary Election and $2,400 for the 2010 General Election. Spouses may each give up to the limit. Qualified federal multi-candidate PACs may contribute up to $5,000 per election. Contributions from unions, corporations, national banks, federal government contractors and foreign nationals not admitted for permanent residence are prohibited.

April 14, 2010 Meeting Agenda

2010-04-13T15:26:00.000-07:00

Our next meeting is tomorrow - Wednesday, April 14th.

Our agenda is below - please spread the word and bring your friends.

Time: 6:00-7:00pm

Location:1107 9th Street, Second Floor conference room

Agenda

I. Officer elections - If you would like to run for President, Vice President, Community Outreach, or Secretary/Treasurer please come with a prepared statement.

II. Updates about the CYD/CDP State convention

III. Guest Speakers: Dr. Ami Bera, candidate for the 3rd Congressional district, and Tobi Dragert, on behalf of Proposition 15, the "California Fair Elections Act."

Rep. Lungren (R-CA) and anti-choice crowd applaud Folsom facility

2010-04-11T17:12:00.001-07:00

Recently in the news there was an article announcing the opening of a “pregnancy alternative center” in Folsom. If you think that description sounds benign enough, consider who attended: Republican Congressman Dan Lungren (CA-3) and 200 opponents of reproductive freedom.

A Democratic Underground poster frames it perfectly:

“Ultra-conservative, Dan Lungren (CA-3), helped open a new _"pregnancy center"_ in Folsom, California, that promises "information from 'both sides' when it comes to pregnancy options." (Ha! And if you buy that, I've got a bridge for sale....)

This incumbent has to go! He's been _kowtowing_ to the far right, was part of the rabble-rousing mobs against HCR, and has fully thown himself in with the anti-choice crowd."

Lungren, of course, is a member of the far right that believes stem cells should each get their own personal burial rather than be used for science. According to “On the Issues” Lungren’s record reveals that he:

Voted NO on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. (Jan 2007)
Voted NO on allowing human embryonic stem cell research. (May 2005)
Voted YES on restricting interstate transport of minors to get abortions. (Apr 2005)
Has a 100% from the anti-choice organization National Right to Life Committee.

This year, Dan Lungren faces what may be the toughest political battle of his congressional career. He is facing a formidable Democratic opponent, Ami Bera, who has already out fundraised him. As feminists, we should all pay close attention to the battle brewing in Congressional District 3, as the outcome so intimately affects our goals.

March Events

2010-03-18T10:11:00.000-07:00

Below are some March events to attend and share with your friends and family!

Cesar Chavez Youth Leadership Conference & Celebration - Art, Education, Job and Health Fair

DATE: Saturday March 20, 2010

TIME: 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM

Location: Robert C. Cooley Middle School

9300 Prairie Woods Way, Roseville CA 95747

Conference Coordinator: Rene Aguilera Email: raguilera@surewest.net

Sacramento Regional Chapter Spring Mixer - with special guest Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada
               DATE: Monday, March 22nd 2010
               TIME: 5:30 to 7:30 pm
               Location: Lounge on 20
               1050 20th Street #100, Midtown Sacramento
               Please RSVP for this FREE event before Friday, March 19th

Join us for an evening of networking, fun, and invigorating conversation. The Sacramento
Regional Chapter of California Women Lead encourages new, existing and potential members to network with and support one another. This event enables women to develop invaluable leadership skills and professional contacts that are needed today. Hors d'oeuvres provided, No-host bar.

10th Annual César Chávez March

DATE: MARCH 27, 2010 - 10:00 AM-

TIME: 10:00 AM

                March begins at: Arteaga's Supermarket
                Location: 940 Sacramento Ave./Jefferson Blvd
               West Sacramento, CA 95606
               (Arrive at Cesar Chavez Park 10th & J streets. Bring your family, friends, signs & banners. Free RT Bus & Rail tickets all day.)

For Info: (916) 446-3021 E-mail: nadm916@aol.com nadm916@aol.com
Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, AFL-CIO

Stop Violence Against Women

2010-03-09T12:27:00.000-08:00

The International Rescue Committee has launched this petition campaign to urge Congress to support the International Violence Against Women Act. You can contact our Congresswoman, Doris Matsui, here.

In the chaos of conflict and disaster, women and girls can suffer unspeakable violence, exploitation and abuse. The odds are against them as they struggle to survive and protect themselves and their families.

Urge Congressional leaders to support the International Violence Against Women Act and ensure that Congress passes it without delay. This legislation will empower women to claim their most fundamental human rights. With the necessary resources for medical care, counseling, economic opportunities and education, women and girls can win in the fight against violence.

We, the undersigned, support the International Violence Against Women Act. We urge you, as leaders of the Congress, to support this bipartisan legislation to stop violence against women and girls worldwide. We ask your help to ensure Congress passes it quickly.

As a supporter of the International Rescue Committee, I am concerned about violence against women living in conflict zones. I find the horrific abuse of women’s rights in places like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan and Pakistan an outrage on our conscience. And after natural disasters, such as the terrible earthquake in Haiti, I know that women are vulnerable to violence, exploitation and abuse.

The United States must lead the way to ensure a safer, more secure future for women and girls. This legislation is a critical first step towards curbing violence against women by aiding survivors, protecting those still vulnerable and preventing further violence through desperately needed international programs and foreign policy measures. We have a responsibility to protect and empower women and girls around the world who face unspeakable violence and abuse.

My Womb is Not a Vehicle for Your Agenda

2010-02-25T10:40:00.005-08:00

I left lovely Sacramento, CA a few days ago to come home to Florida and visit with my mom and her 800 cats. (Just kidding – she only has four, two of which are purring next to me right now). I basically fled Florida at the age of 18 because I knew as an ambitious, left-of-the-left, queer liberal feminist, my chances for personal and professional success would probably be greater elsewhere. At least one of the measures filed in this year’s Florida Legislature remind of why.

Sponsored by Rep. Charles Van Zant, R-Palatka, HB 1097 would criminalize most abortions now allowed under state and federal law, increase penalties for physicians who perform such services and require pregnant women to receive more information on adoption.

The bill is 53 pages long (you can read the whole thing here), and plainly seeks to overturn Roe v. Wade. In the rambling findings, HB 1097 says it is “fundamentally unfair” to base the constitutionality of a law on a women’s liberty interest. Indeed, our right to privacy is certainly less valuable than the right to say, own a gun. Among the measure’s major provisions:

· Makes induced abortions illegal and punishable by up to life in prison

· Allows doctors and hospital to refuse to provide abortion services.

· Continues judicial bypass that allows minors to seek a judge’s order instead of telling a parent or guardian.

· Prohibits abortions resulting from pregnancies involving rape or incest.

· Requires a second physician to sign-off on the procedure when a doctor believes an abortion was medically necessary to save the life of the mother.

· Requires women to receive information on adoption as an abortion alternative

The sad thing is that the House Speaker here, Larry Cretul, R-Ocala, is actually taking this bill seriously. “He is a very passionate guy and he believes that needs to have some public discussion,” Cretul said of Van Zant. “I told him, ‘Work your bill, and we’ll see what happens.’” The state director of Planned Parenthood states the obvious demise of this bill, however: The bill is totally unconstitutional. "This is the most rigid and inflexible ban on abortion in the United States…Not only does it ban abortion, it also has absolutely no exceptions for rape or incest."

Perhaps Van Zant forgets that we are in the 21st century.

Woman's Last Stand

2010-02-20T07:24:00.001-08:00

Weeks have gone by since the 2010 Super Bowl, but the flurry of criticism from women’s rights groups hasn’t ceased. And well it shouldn’t – in this year’s much-hyped advertisements, women were compared to chattel, incubators for future sports heroes, and bluntly called pains in the ass that warrant some form of relief (i.e. a masculine Dodge Charger).

This of course is nothing new. As Jaclyn Friedman writes:

“I'm hardly the first to point out that the Super Bowl's fans, athletes and institutions aren't always friendly to independent women. The commercials that air during the game seem to actively compete for the Most Jaw-Droppingly Offensive Ad Award, and they feature only two kinds of women: one the one hand, sexually available and easily manipulated hotties invarious states of undress, (as in this ad, in which men can literally control elite racecar driver Danica Patrick and compel her to take off her clothes, get into a shower and make out with another woman); or, on the other hand, unlovable shrews who make men miserable (as in this ad, in which we discover that football refs know how to keep their cool under pressure because they're already used to their wives screeching at them at home). For decades, these spots have appeared to target either 12-year-old boys, or men with the equivalent level of emotional maturity. This, despite evidence that the actual Super Bowl audience is now nearly 40 percent female.”

So its no surprise that this year, women are hitting back with mocking ads of their own. Taking on a Dodge Charger ad, in which men lament the difficulties of “being civil to your mother” and “carrying your lip balm,” women respond with a biting ad that mocks the self-entitled whiney-ness of Dodge men:

EQUALITY NOW executive director Taina Bien-Aimé told POLITICO that the Super bowl ads were "saddening." "What they tell us is that women are either considered as fungible objects or emasculating individuals when a man chooses daily responsibilities (cleaning up after yourself, participating in the household) versus enjoying what social masculinity offers (football game)."

Upcoming event at McGeorge Law School - Defining what Feminism Means Today

2010-02-19T09:29:00.001-08:00

In from the McGeorge Women's Caucus

We invite you to join McGeorge Women's Caucus in a candid and interesting discussion about what feminism means today. We are thrilled to announce that Professor Pruitt of UC Davis Law School will be our keynote speaker.

When: Tuesday, February 23rd, 5pm-6pm
Where: Rotunda, McGeorge library

WINE AND APPETIZERS WILL BE SERVED. All are welcome! Please join us!

Professor Lisa Pruitt teaches feminist legal theory, law and rural livelihoods,sociology of the legal profession, and torts at the UC Davis School of Law. She will speak about the aspirations, expectations, and career prospects of the generation of women now in law school—women who sometimes embrace the term “third-wave feminist.” Before joining the UC Davis law faculty in 1999, Professor Pruitt worked abroad for almost a decade in settings ranging from international organizations to private practice. Professor Pruitt’s past positions include Gender Consultant at the International Criminal Tribunal in Kigali, Rwanda; Judicial Clerk to the Honorable Morris Arnold of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit; and Legal Assistant to Judge George H. Aldrich of the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal in TheHague, The Netherlands.

Professor Pruitt has been an active advocate for increasing opportunities for women within the legal profession and legal education. She is currently the Chair-Elect of theSection on Women in Legal Education of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS), has previously served on the No Glass Ceiling Task Force of the Sacramento County Bar Association, and has been a rape crisis victim advocate. Professor Pruitt’s publications include Toward a Feminist Theory of the Rural (2008); Place Matters: Domestic Violence and Rural Difference (2008); and A Kinder, Gentler Law School? Race, Ethnicity, Gender and Legal Education at King Hall (2005).

Professor Pruitt earned her J.D. from the University of Arkansas, where she was Robert A. Leflar Fellow and Editor-in-Chief of the Arkansas Law Review. As a British Marshall Scholar, Professor Pruitt also earned her PhD in Laws at the University of London, where her thesis was a gendered critique of the legal regulation of speech. Prior to joining the UC Davis School of Law, Professor Pruitt also taught at Leiden University and the University of Amsterdam in The Netherlands, and at the Northwestern University School of Law.

Best,

Catherine

MWC President

Fem Dems 2010!

2010-02-16T18:11:00.005-08:00

Save the Date! The next Fem Dems general membership meeting will be on Wednesday, March 10th at 6pm at 1121 L Street, Suite 102. Meetings will be on the second Wednesday of each month in 2010. An agenda will be emailed out in early March.

Be sure to check out the California Young Democrats homepage to find Young Dem activities in the area and in the state. There are some great YD activities in the coming weeks to participate in. Please note that the CYD endrosement meeting is on the weekend of Feb. 26th - 28th here in Sacramento. All young dems are strongly urged to attend. If you are interested in going please email your interest back to femdems916@gmail.com. We definitely need to have representation and feminist votes there!

***Reminder: Fem Dems Nov. Meeting is on Tuesday, Nov. 17th at 6pm.

2009-11-14T11:14:00.000-08:00

Please note location change: 1830 N Street, Sacramento, CA 95811.

Please join us with special guest Janice Rocco, a longtime statewide and national NOW leader and Chief of Staff to our own State Assemblymember Dave Jones. Janice will be updating us on the national healthcare reform debate from a feminist's perspective: how have women's issues been left out, included, or totally politicized?

Snacks will be provided!

A little about Janice:

Janice Rocco began her NOW activism in college. After serving as President of her campus chapter in Santa Barbara, Janice became the youngest-ever President of the Los Angeles chapter of NOW at the age of 25. Since then, Janice has continued her leadership in NOW, while also working in California's state capitol as the Chief of Staff to the Chair of the Legislative Women's Caucus and then to the Chair of the Assembly Judiciary Committee. Janice has worked on a wide range of issues including violence against women, lesbian rights, reproductive rights and the image of women in media. She brings years of organizing and public policy experience to NOW.

Janice was involved in filing the gender equity lawsuit against the California State University system which resulted in a consent degree that brought a significant increase in athletic opportunities for women. Her work to educate the public about the harm done by misogynistic song lyrics led MTV to pull a popular video and caused retailers to refuse to sell the CD without a warning label. Janice has worked on local, state and federal races to recruit, train and elect women and people of color to office. She also worked to defeat three parental notification ballots measures in California, and worked against those to end affirmative action and repeal marriage equality. As President of Los Angeles NOW, Janice was interviewed by local and national television, radio and print media, and has appeared on The Today Show, Good Morning America, CNN, the Fox News channel and Entertainment Tonight. Janice is currently serving her third term on NOW's National Board and is the Southwest Regional Director.

Getting appointed to boards and commissions

2009-11-12T13:39:00.003-08:00

Last week, California Women Lead hosted a free workshop on how to get an appointment to a board or commission as a woman. Two Fem Dems were able to attend this event and it was everything promised: full of useful information and attended by many women mayors, council members and board members who could lend their experience and advice to the next generation of women leaders.

California Women Lead is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to providing leadership and campaign trainings, networking opportunities, and policy discussion forums for women interested in or who hold elected and appointed offices. CWL’s mission, as women in government, is to inform and educate its constituencies as well as encourage and support women to seek public office.

Similarly, the Fem Dems is committed to helping feminist democrats get elected or appointed to bring our voice into the policy debates that affect our everyday lives. The first and most basic thing we learned from the workshop is that getting an appointment to a board or commission is the first step in getting more women in elected office. So below please find the tips and pointers that we got on how to start navigate the appointments process:

1. Why should women be engaged in the political process? The main answers to this question were that women need to be more forceful because we have different ideas and they are GOOD ideas. The 3 speakers, Kathy Lund, Cheyl Maki and Susan Rohan each touched on the themes of how women collaborate to problem solve, and bring the experiences that men don’t have to the table. Another issue that came up is that women often think they have to be experts at something before they are allowed to have opinions. Women need to speak up – even if our voices shake! – because people also need to HEAR what we have to say. We aren’t just speaking up at these public forums for ourselves, but because our good ideas serve the community!

What do you need to know to get appointed?

a. There are state boards and commissions and local level boards and commissions. At the state level, check out Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s appointments page. According to the speakers, your partisan affiliation as a Democrat is no preclusion to getting appointed.

b. Be open-minded about which appointment you want. You are allowed to select five that you would like to be appointed to. It’s OK if you don’t know the issue area, too. These appointments are learn-on-the-job positions, so you can learn all about the state mining trade or state security guards as you go.

c. Be prepared to give up all your personal information in the application. You will be background checked and once appointed, your information is public. Some women in attendance expressed that it was this giving up of private info that caused them to withdraw their appointment applications.

d. A few appointments actually require senate confirmation, so make sure that if the one you are interested in does, you are prepared to go before the Senate and answer questions on record.

e. Know what the time demands are of the position you are seeking. Some are just two days a month but require a lot of travel, while others are more frequent and in Sacramento. You want to make sure you are prepared to integrate the demands of the appointment, which is very part-time, with the demands of your regular, full time life.

f. For local level appointments, contact your city council member’s office and ask if they have any positions they need filled on a local commission on board. According to the CWL speakers, people who volunteer to fill these positions and be involved in their communities and warmly welcomed by local leaders, and later tapped to run for office.

Having women show and speak for our issues has always been an imperative of organizations like the Fem Dems and California Women Lead. Attending this event reminded me that the Fem Dems, as a chapter of the California Young Democrats, should heed the call to get appointments within the umbrella of our own organization (both the state and national YDs), and continue our work influencing the CYD platform to make sure it reflects issues that feminist democrats care about, too.

Fem Dems Respond to the Loss of Civil Rights in Maine

2009-11-04T15:41:00.000-08:00

On Thursday, Oct. 29, the Fem Dems phoned from Sacramento’s Equality California field office to hundreds of voters in Maine to keep the fundamental right to marry intact for same sex couples there.

In light of the slim majority that voted to repeal same-sex marriage, http://www.marriageequality.org/ issued the following statement:

Our hearts go out to same-sex couples in Maine who have had their fundamental right to marry stripped away by a slim majority, said Molly McKay, Marriage Equality USA. Its absolutely inhumane to put same-sex couples and their children through these grueling campaigns that only serve to promote hatred, ignorance and bigotry. LGBT Americans deserve the same security and respect that marriage provides to all other families and we will continue on our journey that has brought us this far and continue to share our truth and the impact of discrimination it is truly only a matter of time. We, of the generation that has been tasked with the obligation to end legal discrimination against LGBT Americans must learn that life isnt about waiting for the storm to pass, its about learning to! dance in the rainand dance and march and sing and pray is what we will doand as our most beloved Dr. Martin Luther King has said, we will do so, until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

We must continue to heed the advice of Harvey Milk and come out to everyone we meet as supporters of marriage equality, as LGBT people, as sisters, brothers, parents and friends of gay people, said Pamela Brown, Marriage Equality USA Policy Director. Last night, we achieved victories in Washington State and Kalamazoo, seven openly gay candidates won in elections spanning the nation from St. Petersburg, Florida to Salt Lake City, Utah and two are in run-off elections in Houston, Texas and the 58th District in Georgia. And as people witness same-sex couples happily married in six states, living their lives, mowing their lawn, paying their taxes and as our families become woven into the seamless web of community and citizenship, the injustice of separa! te of unequal treatment will grow more and more apparent. To h! elp high light our common humanity, Marriage Equality USA is launching a stories project, particularly in states where marriage equality is a reality. We want to encourage same-sex couples, their families, straight allies, and other community members to share their experiences on the impact and importance of extending the freedom to marry to all loving, committed couples. The stories we collect will be presented through a digital stories project that we will release during Februarys Freedom to Marry month.

To have your story including in this project, please complete the on-line survey at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=kGFndFxQS4gCHuCU_2bKgBUg_3d_3d

***

The Fem Dems’ hearts and spirits are with our friends in Maine and we will remain committed to the noble cause of marriage equality for all.

Gender equality for female veterans

2009-11-04T15:30:00.000-08:00

It wasn’t long into the Iraq War that I started to realize that this country’s perception of women being incapable of combat roles could be permanently changed by the reality foisted upon our service men and women in Iraq. Despite the fact that women are not congressionally authorized to be in combat roles, and despite the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision that Congress could discriminate against women when it comes to our role in the military, the Iraq War is a game changer that simply can’t be ignored.

A recent article in the New York Times details how war is the great equalizer:

When Mrs. Pacquette joined the army in the ’80s — inspired by her father, who served in World War II — men often told her she did not belong. “Women were seen as weak and whiny,” she said. “Men had to go on sick call all the time but when a woman went on sick call, it was a big deal.”

Even before she was deployed to Iraq in 2004, however, she sensed what thousands of women have since discovered: that war would be an equalizer. And it was.

In early October 2004, her convoy of about 30 vehicles set out from Kuwait for Mosul, one of Iraq’s most violent cities. On the way, she said, they were hit three times with roadside bombs. One exploded 200 feet from the unarmored Humvee in which Mrs. Pacquette spent day and night pointing her rifle out an open window….““There were guys on the ground that I was responsible for as an NCO,” she said, adding, “As a leader, I had to keep my fear inside.”

The consequence of allowing women into combat roles without officially recognizing their status as combat veterans is playing out as these women return home seeking the medical and emotional support for the unique and often isolating wounds of war. They return home, and find that their claims are denied or they are left alone without a group of similarly situated women to transition back to civilian life with.

Dr. Carri-Ann Gibson, Mrs. Pacquette’s therapist, who runs the Trauma Recovery Program at the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital in Tampa, Fla., said the hardest part for women is that they often feel ashamed and guilty because “they’re not supposed to punch a wall, they’re not supposed to get aggressive with their spouse.”

Dr. Gibson said that for men, rage, paranoia and aggression are more accepted, while women are typically expected to snap back into domestic routines without any trouble.

“Women apply that pressure to themselves as well,” she said. “They live with that inner feeling of anger, and that’s why we see more events happening at home than actually out in public.”

Dr. Resick of the National Center for P.T.S.D. said much was still unknown about how the minds of men and women handle war. But at this point, she said, men and women differ mainly in how they manage similar symptoms.

“The women — because they are not surrounded by other women, they may be surrounded by men — may withdraw more,” she continued. “The question is, Who are they with when they come home?”

The fact that women are in combat roles and are returning with serious emotional and physical scars such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can no longer be denied. But so long as it is, our female veterans are suffering alone and being denied to dignity and respect they deserve for sacrificing so much for our country.

Many women traumatized by combat stress described lives of quiet desperation, alone, in just a few rooms with drawn shades. Nancy Schiliro, 29, who lost her right eye as a result of a mortar attack in 2005, said that for more than two years after returning home, she rarely left a darkened garage in Hartsdale, N.Y., that her grandmother called “the bat cave.” Shalimar Bien, 30, described her life, four years after Iraq, as a nonstop effort to avoid confrontation.

This really comes as no surprise when you consider how dismissive and condescending people – even the men who served with women in Iraq and Afghanistan – are to women veterans. After saving lives and risking their own to serve this country, they must return to defend their contribution from insulting remarks like “How was the shopping?”

When Heather Paxton started working at the V.A. hospital in Columbia, Mo., two years ago, she discovered something she did not expect: no one saw her as a veteran. Despite her service in Iraq, patients assumed she knew nothing of war. A male colleague who chattered about weapons dismissed her like a silly little sister when she chimed in. “He’d give me the stink eye,” Ms. Paxton said. “He’d just walk away.”

For many female veterans today, war and their roles in it must be constantly explained. For those with post-traumatic stress, the constant demand for proof can be particularly maddening — confirming their belief that only the people who were “over there” can understand them here.

Renee Peloquin, 25, a member of the Idaho National Guard, had to design a bumper sticker that says “Female Iraqi War Veteran” because the basic “Iraq War Veteran” message on her car led strangers to thank her long-haired boyfriend for serving, even though he has never spent a day in uniform.

“I’m so sick of being stereotyped,” Ms. Peloquin said. “Or being ignored, that’s a better word.”

Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq veteran who lost two legs there and ran for congress in Illinois, answers the combat question squarely: “it’s not a question, Can women can do a combat job. They just are.”

As a society, we have an obligation to provide our veterans with the services they need upon return to civilian life. That includes proper medical care that acknowledges the very real mental injuries suffered by both men and women. Getting there requires a realistic assessment of what roles women now play in the military and honoring that with proper medical care and other transition services.

Another great meeting!

2009-10-22T15:12:00.000-07:00

Last night was a great meeting, and we welcome the three new women who joined! A wrap up on what was covered:
1. End of Session Wrap Up: Feminist Democrats had some great wins but substantial losses in CA this year. Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 119 (banning gender discrimination in health insurance pricing), into law – a big but welcome surprise. The Fem Dems advocated for his support. However, he vetoed legislation to help secure justice for women who are victims of sexual assault by requiring jurisdictions to account for untested rape kits, citing “costs.” In the budget arena, Schwarzenegger eliminated the California Department of Public Health's Domestic Violence Program's $20.4 million budget with a line item veto. BUT…State Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco introduced a bill that would restore $16.3 million for the program by taking money from another fund. Yesterday that bill was signed into law, but only after six of the state’s 94 shelters were already closed.

2. Fem Dems to Support Marriage Equality: On Wednesday, Oct. 28th we’ll be phoning at a California Equality phone bank to support the battle going on in Maine right now. We can help keep a Prop. 8 disaster from happening in another state! Details: Thursday 10/29/2009 02:30 PM to 05:30 PM - EQCA Canvass Office, 1722 J Street, Sacramento.

3. Learn How to Get Appointed to a Board or Commission! This FREE workshop, hosted by California Women Lead, will guide you through the appointments process. Let’s get more women in these crucial decision-making positions that are stepping stones for other opportunities! Details: Thursday, November 5th, 5:30pm – 7:30pm @ Whitney Oaks Golf Club, 2305 Clubhouse Drive, Rocklin. Email me at amber.maltbie@gmail.com for details about car-pooling.

4. Future Speakers/Workshops: What topics are relevant and of interest to you as a feminist? Please let us know what you would like to hear about from a speaker, and we can set up guests for future meetings. Would you like to hear from a communications expert about the damaging ways women are betrayed in the media? Or learn about negotiating as a woman in the workforce? Please send an email to Hatzune and Hatzune@gmail.com with your suggestions for future meetings.

Fem Dems meeting this week!

2009-10-18T20:54:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!!

This week, we're going to meet at the Shady Lady on WEDNEDSDAY instead of Tuesday!

We will meet at 6:30pm on R St in Sacramento!

Newcomers are welcome.

Sweeeet!

Gender Equality in the Federal Healthcare Debate

2009-10-14T12:05:00.001-07:00

On the heels of last week’s victory for women in California’s own healthcare debate, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi along with the Congressional Women’s Caucus introduced H.R. 3200 – a bill comparable to California’s AB 119 to end price discrimination in the insurance industry nationally, and to fix the “sexist, irrational and often cruel healthcare system that women now contend.”
Ms. Magazine reports that H.R. 3200 aims to end the gender rating that forces women to pay 140% more for health insurance than men, will add maternity care, which is now missing from 79% of plans, and cover preventative measures such as mammograms.

Appallingly, in eight states women who are victims of domestic violence are deemed to have a “pre-existing condition,” thus a legitimate ground for denying coverage. H.R. 3200 will also aims to ban this disgusting practice of punishing women for being victims in their own homes.

The bill is being finalized right now. The Fem Dems will be monitoring the bill’s progress closely.

AB 119 (Jones) and AB 98 (De La Torre)

2009-10-12T10:48:00.000-07:00

AB 119 was signed by Governor Schwarzenegger! This is great news for women in California who have suffered unfairly under the hands of the health insurance industry. Finally, some justice.

Thank you everyone who took some time to write, call, and email the Governor!

Unfortunately, a huge piece of the gender equality puzzle, AB 98 was vetoed. This means there is more work to do.

AB 119 - Send your letter now!

2009-10-08T12:15:00.000-07:00

Below is a copy of the letter we sent urging Governor Schwarzenegger to support AB119. There are only 3 days left to send your letter. Please note that his fax number is 916-558-3160.

October 8, 2009

The Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor, State of California
State Capitol, First Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814

Cc. First Lady Maria Shriver, State of California (Fax: 916-558-3160)
Cc. Patty Bellasalma, President , California National Organization for Women (Fax: 916-442-4765)

Re: AB 119 (Jones) - Support

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:

The Feminist Democrats of the Sacramento Region are writing to urge you to support AB 119, which would eliminate the loophole in the law that permits gender discrimination in health insurance premiums.

Our mission as an organization is to promote the feminist principles of equality, diversity and inclusiveness. Current law allows women to be charged more than men for the same health insurance policy. To limit women’s access to health services is to penalize whole families.

This economic burden is magnified by the fact that women on average make only 78% of men’s wages and have less ability to pay expensive health care costs. This burden is even more substantial for women of color whose average wages are less. Equality in health insurance policy premiums is critical not only to ensuring women’s access to needed health care but to increased financial stability.

Among our own membership, we have the following experiences to share with you in the hopes that it portrays exactly how meaningful this legislation is:

Amber’s Story – For the past few years, I have watched my mother – a single woman in her fifties – be turned down by one insurance provider after another. The costs of the programs that are available to her are prohibitive, averaging $600/month. As a self-employed house cleaner, my mother has neither a traditional work plan nor the means to afford health insurance. Because of this she avoids visiting the doctor until things get dire. Things got dire at the worst time possible – she waited to visit the doctor until the last minute because of concerns about money, and as a consequence, missed my wedding because she was so sick with the flu. It was heart wrenching for both of us and could have been avoided if she had access to preventative healthcare, a luxury that affordable health insurance can provide.

Natalie’s Story - I am currently enrolled at California State University, Sacramento. Since I have turned 24 I have not been able to receive the health benefits I was lucky to have in my life previously. As a student I have to endure the rising cost of tuition without any health benefit incentive. Not only have I recently been injured but I also wear glasses because I am terribly nearsighted. My injury is something I deal with everyday as I have not been able to pay for a doctor to look at it and take ex-rays because a majority of my money goes towards school and books. Also, my eyesight gets worse every year and I am unable to purchase new glasses which run from $300-$400 for prescription lenses. I need my glasses to drive to school and work and also to be able to see the board to take notes in class. I am unable to have a full time job a receive benefits because I am carrying 15 units at school and only have time to work 12 hours a week at my job. I need access to healthcare to be easier and cheaper.

Women should not have to pay more than men for the same health care coverage. Please support affordable and equal health care for women by signing AB 119.

Sincerely,

The Feminist Democrats of the Sacramento Region

AB119 (Jones) and AB98 (De La Torre) - Act now!

2009-09-21T18:10:00.000-07:00

Given all the info in our last post about why it is so important that we equalize access to health insurance for women, we urge you to ask the Governor to pass AB119 and AB98.

First, some information about both bills.

AB119
Prevents HMOs and insurers from charging men and women different rates for the same health insurance policies in the individual market.

From Assemblymember Dave Jones' press release:

“If higher rates for women keep them from being able to afford health care coverage, this can mean reduced access to health care and potentially result in poorer health status and health outcomes for women. When it comes to health benefits provided directly by employers, this type of gender discrimination has been banned for over thirty years. Those seeking health insurance in the individual market should have the same protections from gender discrimination as those whose health benefits are provided by their employers,”

From the Legislative Councel's Digest:

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

AB 98
AB 98 would require all insurance policies to provide coverage for maternity care services, including prenatal care, labor and delivery services and postpartum care. Maternity care is basic and preventive health care for women. This bill would ensure that maternity costs are spread across the pool of all individuals who purchase insurance just like costs for other basic health care.

From California Center for Research on Women & Families

Gender discrimination in health insurance pricing has been banned for more than thirty years in the provision of group health benefits provided by employers but different rules apply to the individual market where gender discrimination is still permitted. Similarly, group health plans are required to provide coverage for maternity services but insurers are free to market individual policies without maternity coverage. This creates an enormous disadvantage for women who need to purchase their own insurance.

Please call Governor Schwarzenegger before October 11th - his last day to pass or veto these bills! Call ASAP because he can also sign or veto before the 11th.

San Francisco Office: 415.703.2218
Capitol Office:(automated line) 916.445.2841

Hi my name is __________ and I live in _____________.

I am calling to ask that the Governor pass AB119 – the bill that will eliminate gender discrimination in health insurance premiums.

Current law allows women to be charged more than men for the same health insurance policy. California women aged 18-54 are paying as much as 39% more than men for identical individual health plans. Women should not have to pay more than men for the same health care coverage.

Thank you.

HEALTH CARE IMPACT ON WOMEN

2009-09-21T17:44:00.000-07:00

Excerpts from the National Women’s Law Center's facts on why women need health care reform:

In the absence of health reform, more and more women and families will lose their health insurance, with an estimated 995,200 California residents losing coverage between 2008 and 2010.

A recent study revealed that California women aged 18-54 are paying as much as 39% more than men for identical individual health plans.

Women in California Face Unfair and Discriminatory Insurance Industry Practices

1. Insurers in California are allowed to consider gender when setting premium rates in the individual health insurance market, where people buy coverage directly from insurance companies. As a result of “gender rating,” women are often charged more than men for the exact same coverage.

2. In California, insurance companies are allowed to reject a woman’s health insurance application for a variety of reasons including her medical history or her current health status.

3. Insurers in California can also exclude coverage for certain “pre-existing” conditions; if a woman has previously had a Cesarean section, for instance, insurers may refuse to pay for future C-sections or reject her application altogether.

4. In California, where nearly a third of all births were by C-section in 2006, tens of thousands of women could face coverage exclusions or rejections because of this discriminatory practice.

Women in California Have More Trouble Affording Necessary Health Care

1. Women are generally poorer than men, and in California earn just 84 cents for every dollar men earn.

2. Women also use the health care system more, in part due to their reproductive health needs.

3. Because they are poorer and use more care, women spend a greater share of their income on their health needs. Women are more likely than men to struggle with medical bills or debt, and to report cost-related problems with accessing health care.

4. For instance, 17% of women in California report not visiting a doctor due to high costs.

5. Women without coverage are especially likely to experience cost-related barriers to care. In 2007, more than one in five women in California was uninsured.

6. Even women with health insurance report problems affording health care. Unaffordable cost-sharing requirements, annual limits on covered services, or health plan limits on lifetime expenditures have a disproportionate impact on women. They are more likely than men to be underinsured, meaning they have coverage that leaves their financial and physical health at risk.

Study: Women lawmakers best men

2009-09-21T17:07:00.000-07:00

Study: Women lawmakers best men

By: Erika Lovley
September 15, 2009 04:46 AM EST

Are women more effective lawmakers than men?

That’s the preliminary conclusion of a study conducted by researchers at Stanford University and the University of Chicago, who say that on average, women in Congress introduce more bills, attract more co-sponsors and bring home more money for their districts than their male counterparts do.

The study, which examined the performance of House members between 1984 and 2004, found that women delivered roughly 9 percent more discretionary spending for their districts than men.

For instance, during Rep. Judy Biggert’s first two-year term, Illinois’s 13th District received $382 million in federal funds, $70 million more than it received during the final term of her predecessor, Rep. Harris Fawell.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren delivered around $859 million to her district, compared with $541 million brought in by her predecessor, Rep. Don Edwards, during his final term, the researchers said.

And during then-Rep. Connie Morella’s first term, Maryland’s 8th District received $780 million, $183 million more than predecessor Rep. Michael Barnes brought in during his final term, they said.

While there are obviously variables beyond gender — seniority, party affiliation, majority/minority status and the differing priorities of a freshman and a veteran lawmaker — the researchers say they’ve accounted for those in making their male-to-female comparisons.

“You could easily make the argument that a politician who is on his way out, or someone who is sitting on a really powerful committee, is in a different position than someone just coming into office,” said Stanford researcher Sarah Anzia. “Not every example will cover every alternative explanation, but we control for all of those factors in the study.”

The researchers also found that women introduced more legislation than men who served in their same districts, often hitting the ground running in their first terms.

“We find that, on average, women sponsor about three bills more per Congress per term than their male counterparts,” said Anzia. “They co-sponsor more bills than other members, and they also obtain more co-sponsors for their own bills.”

Since 1789, women have constituted just 2 percent of the total congressional population. The ratio of female to male representatives has increased in recent years, but the pace is still fairly glacial: Nearly 17 percent of House members are women today, compared with about 3 percent in 1979.

Researchers say the small number of female members may have something to do with their effectiveness. Women who run and win are likely the most politically ambitious and talented of their pool, having potentially overcome hurdles including voter bias and self-doubt about their ability to win. Female candidates also tend to attract more challengers. Politically eligible women tend to doubt their ability to get elected and raise money more than men do, multiple studies have indicated. Large majorities of both men and women in candidate feeder pools, such as law offices and political organizations, believe there is a bias against women in elections, according to Lawless and Fox studies in 2005 and 2004.

Once women get to Capitol Hill, those hurdles may drive them to perform better, on average, than male counterparts who have faced a less contentious road.

“Research shows that even though women have similar success rates in primaries and elections as men, they are likely to face more challengers,” said Hartwick College political science department chairwoman Laurel Elder. “The results might be the same, but they might have to work harder to get those same results.”

“People ask, ‘Are you going to be strong enough? Are you going to be a fighter for us?’” said Rep. Judy Biggert, who beat five men in the initial Illinois Republican primary in 1998. “That’s always the way I’ve been treated.”

Biggert said she was told during her early days in law school at Northwestern University that she was a student by mistake — a man should have been in her seat.

“That has always given me the drive to work two, three times harder than men,” Biggert said.

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a rising GOP star and female-candidate recruiter for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said it took several “taps on the shoulder” before she decided to run for office.

“Women seem to wait for someone who plants the idea and gives them confidence,” McMorris Rodgers said. “I had individuals who shared their confidence in me, and it helped erase some of the self-doubt.”

“Running for Congress is no walk in the park,” said Rep. Zoe Lofgren, who has served in the House since 1995. “It’s a tough business, and people who do it successfully stand trial by fire.”

Lofgren entered the 1994 Democratic primary in California as the ultimate underdog against a favored male candidate, San Jose Mayor Tom McEnery. On primary night, television crews and reporters crowded her opponent’s headquarters, awaiting the presumed winner’s victory speech, while a lone photographer sat at Lofgren’s offices, waiting to snap a photo of the loser. But in an upset, Lofgren won the primary and then the election. Despite her victory, she faced additional hurdles on Capitol Hill that have continued to drive her daily work efforts. Her initial committee requests were ignored, she said, and she struggled to break through some of the old boys’ networks.

“There were some older male members who had a tough time accepting that there were women members,” said Lofgren, an immigration lawyer who now serves on the powerful House Judiciary and Homeland Security committees.

However, political science professor Jyl Josephson, director of the Rutgers Women’s Studies Program, cautions not to make too much of gender differences on the Hill — particularly among members who’ve been there for a while.

“We spend a lot time measuring gender differences rather than similarities,” Josephson said. “But there are many studies that show similarities, and they don’t get discussed nearly as much.”

Membership Meetings

2009-09-21T16:55:00.000-07:00

The Feminist Democrats of the Sacramento Region meet every 3rd Tuesday of the month. Meetings tend to run an hour long. Please join us @ the Senator Hotel and please bring a snack to share. Thank you!