News

Women underrepresented in politics

Looking for a print version?
Simply use your browser’s ‘Print’ command and a printer-friendly document will be generated automatically.

Related stories:

• Women underrepresented in national university research facilities (January 22, 2004)
• Fewer women in state government every year (January 26, 2009)
• Title IX not helping women in science fields (October 9, 2002)
• Women's crew team sues Baylor University (March 31, 2004)
• Democrats host Roosevelt tribute (October 12, 2007)

Also by N. Zeke Campfield:

• Modell case to be heard by Student Judiciary (October 11, 2001)
• SSFC grants full budget to WisPIRG, adds to SAFE with stipulation (October 11, 2001)
• Anthrax scares rock Madison, county (October 12, 2001)

Sharing tools:

E-mail this article:

Your e-mail address:

Recipient e-mail address:

Optional message:

Share on:

• Facebook
• Digg
• Newsvine
• reddit
• StumbleUpon
• delicious
• Google
• Yahoo! My Web
• BlogMarks
• Linkroll
• Simpy

• Spurl
• Connotea
• Fark
• Feed Me Links

• Magnolia
• BlinkList
• Sphere
• LinkedIn

• Furl
• Technorati
• AddToAny
• Permalink

 

Julie McKeown, a representative from Women’s Political Voice in Milwaukee, spoke with several students Monday night at a workshop aimed at increasing the role of women in politics.

McKeown explained her organization’s work and told the group she would like to see more women in politics in upcoming years, then opened the floor to questions and comments.

“We’re a unique organization that is here to encourage specific young women to get involved in government,” McKeown said. “There’s no consideration of underrepresentation of women right now.”

Her presentation included statistics regarding the number of women in politics.

Currently, women make up 13.5 percent of the U.S. Congress, eight percent of governorships and 22.4 percent of state legislatures.

UW junior Jessy Tolkan, who ran in a controversial city council election last spring, offered her own unique perspective on getting involved in politics.

“It’s more difficult for a woman to run for public office than a man,” Tolkan said, outlining mainly safety issues. “When campaigning I always had to be with a man. I hated that because of the world we live in I couldn’t do it alone.”

Participants also voiced concerns over other issues such as the balance of power and the double standards they felt work against women. The workshop was organized by Associated Students of Madison Women’s Issues Liaison Angela Bartucci.