Marie Wilson: We need their voices

Women are still sparingly found in the political landscape -- but as a recent event shows, that will change.

By MARIE WILSON

Last update: April 17, 2008 - 6:50 PM

Nothing was going to stop these women. Not even the icy roads and gusts of wind and snow that threatened to shut down their event. They came from 13 counties and seven tribes, more than 160 passionate women dedicated to changing the faces and voices of political leadership across northeastern Minnesota.

In over 30 years of advocating for women's issues, I have never experienced anything like last weekend's Iron Range Go Run.

These women, who came from more than 50 different cities and townships and from extraordinarily divergent backgrounds, all faced hurdles to political leadership -- hurdles made larger by their shared status as rural women.

Being a woman in politics: It's a tough business. And it's even tougher when you're entering a political landscape where no woman has trod before. We are far from achieving a representational democracy and a political climate where diverse women feel that their voices and visions count. Surprisingly to many, women's political representation is still perilously low nationwide; the country ranks 71st, behind such stalwarts of democracy as Iraq, Sudan and North Korea. Forty-four counties in greater Minnesota lack even a single woman commissioner; statewide, women make up a mere 11 percent of county commissioners.

Rural women face particular challenges: geographic isolation from networks of support; a shortage of opportunities to climb the leadership ladder, and logistical challenges of campaigning in rural communities. Yet despite these obstacles, brave women have vied for positions of leadership on the Range, and their courage has inspired other women to take the leap into politics.

They include women like Liz Kuoppala of Eveleth and Nevada Littlewolf of Virginia, both of whom sought and won city council seats. Both are now the only women to serve their cities in this capacity and are leading a positive effort to bring women's parity to local government across northeastern Minnesota. Kuoppala, Littlewolf and others like them are not only pressing for women's voices to be included in politics; they are working to ensure that the interests of rural communities are heard in the halls of political power.

Why do women matter in politics? Because the core of what they bring to leadership -- a tendency toward greater inclusiveness, empathy, communication up and down hierarchies, focus on broader issues -- makes for a stronger government.

Prominent research groups, including American University and the Center for American Women and Politics, have spent decades noting the trend: Women offer new solutions to old problems and offer more diverse viewpoints. When men and women lead side by side, at both the local and national levels, the quality of our policies and our politics improves -- and everyone benefits.

The remarkable group of women that came together last weekend to learn the nuts and bolts of running for office embodied a full range of personal histories. One-third were Native American, and they ranged in age from 16 to 67. Roughly half earn less than $30,000 annually. Each had a vision for how to improve the quality of life for people on the Range.

What does it mean to have such diverse women leading in Minnesota's political arena? It means a better, more vibrant and robust government. It means we get one step closer to achieving a representational democracy, where all people are an integral and important part of the political process.

Minnesota's rural areas have a wealth of knowledgeable, passionate and effectual women who are just waiting to lead their communities -- and our nation. They are an untapped resource, and we need them.

Marie Wilson is president of the White House Project, which describes itself as a national, nonpartisan organization that works to advance women into leadership positions up to and including the presidency.

Recent Commentary stories

Garrison Keillor: Let's leave Afghanistan before it's last call - April 17, 2008

Garrison Keillor: Let's leave Afghanistan before it's last call - We don't like quitting, but we also don't like overstaying our welcome. More

Comment on this story | Be the first to comment | Hide reader comments

New ideas for the public sector

THERE'S NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME to create a more efficient Minnesota. Facing large budget deficits at the state, county and local levels, Minnesotans are seeing with new clarity that the public sector must adapt to new economic realities. Only the smartest, most strategic reinvention will ensure that our tax dollars are spent on the best programs and services. Read more

About Opinion Exchange

Opinion Exchange is produced by the Editorial Department, which is dedicated to hosting the discussion on a range of issues of interest to Star Tribune readers online and in print. In its new format, it's our hope that Opinion Exhange will create a more dynamic dialogue between Star Tribune readers and the Editorial Board. Many individual posts will be written and signed by members of the Editorial Board and will reflect their own opinions. Daily editorials will continue to represent the institutional voice of the newspaper and be researched and written by the Editorial Department, which is independent of the newsroom.

Subscribe to RSS|Learn more about RSS