Utah’s Glass Ceiling

Conservative women active in politics are on the rise across the country.  Sadly, they still have a hard time getting respect, equal treatment, are not elected nearly as often as men and are frequently relegated to behind-the-scenes background roles. (I do have to point out that the Dems here do a much better job at electing women – abt 50% of the Democrats in the Utah House are women – just about the right proportion, don’t you think?)

Women who are politically powerful are often called, well, bitchy and are mocked for their conservative views.  Why is that?  Maybe those women should just claim it as a title of honor and go ahead and get the T-shirt as a card-carrying member of the “club”……

Seriously – do men hear these kind of things? (Actual quotes, by the way)

“Sure I’ll support you – but I sure don’t get why your husband LETS you do this”

*”You can’t possibly be conservative. Your wife works“

*”Please don’t talk to people. They are intimidated by strong women and it hurts my campaign.”

*”If you run, they’ll just crucify you because you still have kids at home.”

*”Get a job and stop being a sponge on society” (to a homemaker volunteering in the political arena)

*”Shouldn’t you be home more?”

*”You don’t deserve to get reimbursed for mileage but I’ll allow you to fill the gas tank” (said to a MAYOR by a full-time employee with a city vehicle and an expense account)

*”We are going to have trouble with drama from the women on the city council” (said by a sitting mayor to a city council with ONE woman on it)

*”Leave politics to the men – women aren’t cut out for it.“

*”There’s a good-ole boy system around here and we have our way of doing things” – S. Utah old-timer

So what’s the solution? Give up? Go away? Stay home? Be quiet? No! I would even say HE(CK) NO! We need MORE women involved in politics. We need MORE women willing to speak up and let their voices be heard. We need MORE women willing to move to the front of the line, not just accept a background role with the crumbs that fall from the table. We need MORE women involved as political pundits, policy experts, elected officials, social media experts, and as LEADERS across the political spectrum. We need more men who are not intimidated by strong women. We need more men who are good and truly respectful and supportive. We need more men who consider women in politics their peers, not their inferiors.  In short, we need men AND women of courage and moral conviction to be actively engaged in this cause.

It’s time for women to come into their own on the political scene.  We have some great examples of conservative women making a real difference in Utah politics like Jennifer Scott, original campaign manager and now district director for Congressman Jason Chaffetz, Deidre Henderson, current campaign manager for Chaffetz, Representative Becky Lockhart from Provo, Senator Margaret Dayton from Orem, Becky Pirente, leader in the 9-12 movement, Jane Hawley, community activist and leader in southern Utah, Joni Crane doing the same in the Uintah basin, Mia Love and Melissa Johnson, mayors of Saratoga Springs and West Jordan, respectively, Cherilyn Eagar, brave enough to be running for US Senate and a number of others.  They are awesome.  And, we need MORE.  Step up.  Be counted.  Be determined.  Don’t be afraid to rock the boat.  And get a tough skin – you’ll need it (but it’s worth it).