Ambition isn't the issue; the system is. Low salaries, longlegislative sessions in faraway capitol cities, & misogyny make it challenging for women to serve. Thx to groups like @HigherHeights@NewAmericanLd & @VoteRunLead for encouraging women to run despite these conditions.
Women are severely underrepresented not because of an ambition gap @LawlessJenn but because of an affirmation gap. We don't invite women, give them dollars or support them when they're elected. (1/3)
Nearly 130 years since the first three women were elected to state legislative offices in the U.S., women remain massively underrepresented in state legislatures.
@LeahMWillingham and I attempted to take a look at why: https://t.co/YpYrgzCCxM
Furthermore, women of color "face four times the amount of online abuse than white politicians" according to @ApoliticalFound report "Mere Mortals" (2/3)
I propose some solutions...funding gatherings for women of color, investing in co-leadership and engaging with all staff and not just leaders. What else do we need?
Opinion: Women leaders of color are exhausted writes @SayuBhojwani. "From unfulfilled racial justice pledges to unionizing nonprofits, the pressures on us aren’t letting up." @NewAmericanLd@OpenSociety https://t.co/ELWyqQ3tlQ
"women of color are drawn to social-justice work by the desire to change the systems that don’t serve our communities. Yet when confronted with obstacles, we are quick to blame ourselves instead of looking at root causes ..."