Dels. Kayla Young, D-Kanawha, and Anitra Hamilton, D-Monongalia, are the only two Democratic female lawmakers in the West Virginia Legislature. (Photo by Perry Bennett/West Virginia Legislative Photography)
Where are the women? Listen: There are 134 legislators in the West Virginia House of Representatives and Senate. Two of them are Democrats. Read that again. Thank you, Anitra Hamilton and Kayla Young. I wish there were 132 more of you.
Across the aisle, there are nine Republican women in the House and four in the Senate.
Some facts: The Mountain State has the lowest percentage of Democrats and female legislators in the country. Democrats – about 8%. Women – about 11%.
Is this why we rank last in almost every measure of family wealth and well-being? Hmmm. Let me think. I’ll come back to that. Just kidding.
Women make up half of the population. Yet their voices fall on many deaf ears. West Virginia does not yet have a female governor. And there is only one female member of both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.
It was inspiring to see Virginia elect its first female governor this year.
Good news: Our five largest cities have all had female mayors at one time or another. Morgantown had six. They currently have Mayor Danielle Trumble.
Charleston’s first female mayor is the current one: Amy Shuler Goodwin. She deftly led a kind of Charleston revival. The focus is on outdoor activities and fitness, art, music and entertainment.
Goodwin saved the popular Sternwheel Regatta Festival from the brink of ruin. And we found a way for Charleston to host the five-year-old USA Cycling Pro Road National Championships.
Her vision has strengthened families in West Virginia. That is significant. Statistically speaking, female politicians represent more family-friendly policies.
And we would be remiss not to praise Charlene Marshall in Morgantown. Now in her 90s, she moves like a sprightly 80-year-old, her mind as acute as a feather. She served as mayor of Morgantown from 1991 to 1998 and was the first black female mayor of West Virginia. She also served as a Democrat in the House of Representatives for over a decade.
So why are there so few women in politics? Here’s one reason: Many women are taught to fear their own voice. Taught to “be nice.” Believe that a disagreement is bad.
The reality? Healthy discord is fantastic. Honest, decisive opinions are signs of strength and female autonomy. The woman as her own person, apart from the man. In contrast, passive consent is the devil’s dogma. It makes women hidden.
Sometimes silence is a choice. Sometimes men just talk about women or ignore them. Shameful.
Some fascinating research: Men and women speak and write about the same amount, just under different circumstances. Women tend to talk more in personal and social settings. Write more. Men often speak more in business, formal and hierarchical environments. They also statistically dominate online forums and debates. Women are no less wise. I have no less merit. A lot of it is the result of sexism.
Studies also show the success of visibility bias. This means that the loudest voice is heard first. Loud does not mean intelligent. But we are giving these voices more airtime.
Conservatives who are more committed to patriarchal values are as breakable as cicada wings. Snow. The fragility is evident in the numbers. Don’t they believe that women are capable of leading men? Apparently not. There are more than twice as many Democrats as Republicans in the US House of Representatives. Democrats are three times more likely to be represented in the US Senate than their Republican colleagues. I mean, wow.
At the state level, across America in 2024, 31% of Democratic legislators were women – and just 15% of Republican ones. These are bananas.
Here’s the thing: Women run the world – dominating fields in health care and education and birthing and raising babies – but men run them. Often with an iron fist. Think of Donald Trump, Xi Jinping, Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin. I could go on. You have the idea.
But societies change. More and more men are reducing sexism. Some good elderly boys clubs are gender inclusive. Companies are hiring and promoting more women.
Conclusion? Times are evolving. Slow. Surely. Women: Running for Office. Speak louder. Support other women. Cheer them on. Don’t go along just to get along. And men? Stop and listen.
