In these difficult times, as we deal with Saving America itself, it is important to take into account progress and victories.
This year, for the first time, women constitute the majority in the California State Senate. In both cameras, 58 women, a record, are serving. This is only two seats from gender parity, which would make California the largest global economy, and one of the four states of the United States, which has a legislature that is 50% of women. In the assembly, for the first time, most committees are chaired by women.
For me, it’s a great moment. Because? Because it matters who is in the room where decisions are made for our families and our communities. It’s not just about numbers: these are policies. When we sit around the table discussing family issues at home, all voices must be represented to completely understand each person’s problems and find solutions that work. That is only common sense.
The year I arrived at the United States Senate, 1992, was called “Women’s Year.” I have always done it, that was a great exaggeration because we tripled our numbers in the Senate, we just get rid of both or six! So we were 6% of the Senate, and the media called him a great victory. Do not be misunderstood. It was a beginning, and now 26% of senators are women. But it has a leg gravel to get here, and that is still 24 seats that reflect the gender balance of the nation. That is why what is happening in California deserves attention.
The path of the Golden State towards parity has not been chance or an inevitable result of California liberalism. A new report from the American Women and Policy Center of the University of Rutgers highlights the strategies that have accelerated the number of women in the legislature. In 2013, the female representation was tracking to fall to a minimum of 20 years of only 22%. We were moving back.
A group of activists realized that the directed recruitment of women for specific districts could change the game. They began an organization called Close The Gap, and in the decade since the spring, the number of democratic women chosen for the California Legislature has more than duplicate, from 23 to 47 seats. California has jumped from 19 to 4th in the nation for the legislative representation of the state of women.
What made this work? The report gives a lot of credit to the early strategic orientation of liveable districts, personalized training for possible candidates and the incredible network of organizations that work to choose more women.
When I ran for the position for the first time, there were few resources for women who wanted to run. In fact, I founded the first chapter of the National Political Caucus of Women in Marin County before running for the County Supervisor. When I postulated for the United States Senate, a new group called Emily’s List helped candidates access funds like never before. Today, there are multiple groups that provide political training for women and PAC that support and finance women candidates. These organizations have compressed the timeline to achieve parity in Sacramento almost a decade.
When I think of painful slow progress towards parity in Congress, I wonder what we can learn from California to close the gender gap nationwide.
Anita Hill’s audiences inspired a generation of women to take political measures in 1991. The last decade has provided their own moments that have turned on the change. From the “I” movement to the devastating surplus or hueva vs. Wade, women are angry. But anger is not enough. The real transformation is constructed through the strategy, the organization and a collective commitment to the action.
In the heart of this transformation is the power of representation: when women see other women who wield the influence and configuration of decisions at the highest levels, something clicks, and begin to believe that change is not only possible but within their reach.
I know the power of first -hand representation. While traveling through the State as a senator, the young women ran to me after an event and they said: “You are like me! Maybe I can be a senator one day.” And I don’t think they were talking about the fact that we had the same height.
Our democracy is a constant work in progress, and we cannot take for granted. We do not have the luxury of complacency; We must continue organizing and innovation, frankly, bets are too high. A favorite song of the Union Organization mine is thus: “Freedom, freedom is something difficult / you have to work for it, fight for it, day and night for it / and each generation has to do it again.” Adjusted generations have fought and won great profits; The new generations must take the mantle and push even more.
I have the hope of a future when every woman, in each community, has the opportunity to shape the decisions that affect her life. The future will be defined by strong and intelligent women who take a step forward for all the children of the political position, and by those who organize in the long term to help them win.
Barbara Boxer represented California in the United States Senate from 1993 to 2017. He also served for 10 years in the House of Representatives and as Marin County Supervisor for six years.
