Why Wait for a Seat? Let’s Build Our Own Damn Tables
(Hot Feminism: Letters from South Carolina, October 14, 2024)
Why aren’t there more women in elected office? It’s not because we don’t want to be there—it’s because we’re often told, outright or subtly, that we don’t belong.
A while back, I was chatting with a male friend about how disappointing it is that so few women hold elected positions, especially in this day and age. His response? “Well, maybe it’s because women just don’t want to run.” That comment hit me hard. As a former city council member in Colorado, I know firsthand the challenges women face when stepping into the political arena. I’ve helped other women run for office too, and trust me—there’s no shortage of willpower.
What we do face is a constant barrage of, “Can a woman really win that seat?” as if our gender somehow disqualifies us from leadership, or at least because voters fear society isn’t ready, leading them to hesitate and perpetuate the very barriers we’re trying to break.
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Beyond the Glass Ceiling
(Hot Feminism: Letters from South Carolina, October 14, 2024)
As a little girl, I told everyone I was going to be either the first female president or the first woman in the NBA. Now at 42, it might be time to officially retire my pro basketball dreams and let go of becoming the first female president too—but only if it means I get to witness another woman shatter the glass ceiling this year, and inspire other young girls to see what’s possible.
The glass ceiling—an invisible yet evident barrier that has kept women from reaching the highest levels of power—has been steadily cracking over the decades. With Kamala Harris as the first female Vice President, it was clear that change was already underway. But what will it mean for the U.S. to go even further and elect the first Madam President? The potential benefits are profound, not just in terms of gender equality or making history, but for how the country is governed.
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Lisel Petis, Speaker 