When it comes to politics, not only in America but in the world, men have historically held the highest chairs, according to an assembly speaker.
“Gender inequality within the realm of politics in the United States absolutely exists,” Sheila Oliver, New Jersey assembly speaker, said.
According to the Global Gender Gap Report, the U.S. ranks sixtieth when it comes to female political empowerment. Women make up 50.8 percent of the country’s population yet only hold 18.5 percent of the congressional seats.
While women have the complete capacity to serve in these high positions, the gender gap is still seen in today’s society.
Oliver graduated from Lincoln University with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Columbia University. She has been a member of the New Jersey assembly for the past 11 years and served as Speaker of the general assembly for four.
At the age of 62, Oliver has reached heights that many of her gender have not. She was just the second woman to ever serve as speaker in the history of New Jersey.
“Part of the gap exists because for too long, women felt their intellect and capabilities were not equal to that of men,” Oliver said. “Lack of self-confidence and self-esteem blocked their ambition, but we all know that has changed.”
Trailblazers like Oliver are vital to closing the gap that has been present for decades now.
“As a legislator, I am more often than not at the decision-making table deliberating with mostly men,” Oliver said. “I make my voice prominent in insisting that other women are sought to participate in these political initiatives.”
There has never been a female president or vice president in the United States. No woman has ever won the nomination for president in any of the major parties.
Hilary Clinton came the closest in 2008 when she was running against President Obama for the democratic party nomination. Clinton reached second place in the primaries, winning more than any other woman in history.
Only two women have won the nominations of major parties for the vice president candidate —Geraldine Ferraro in 1984 and Sarah Palin in 2008.
Society is accustomed to seeing men hold high political positions.
Currently, there are only five women serving as governors and 20 women serving as senators in America. These numbers have risen as the years have gone by but still it is not enough.
With the presidential election coming up next year, many talk about and see Clinton as the Democratic candidate. Still, it is hard to tell if America is truly ready to accept a women as its president.
A Pew Research Center report shows that 71 percent of the American public claim that gender would not matter pertaining to a presidential candidate.
If the majority of people are saying that gender does not matter, then why is women empowerment in politics still so low? Why are there not 25 female governors instead of just five?
Women have proved that they have the full capability to be as powerful as men in the political world.
“Because of the history of the role of women in American Society and most societies throughout the world, women were discouraged from entering fields which were felt to be the territory of men,” Oliver said.
This discouragement is no longer a factor. Women have made progress in the political world, but their is still work to be done.
“Women everywhere should be encouraged to know that we are making strides in politics,” Oliver said. “If we continue to press for gender equality, and as women support other women, we will continue to topple these artificial barriers.”
