Power to the She and Why Democracy Matters

In March, we marked Women’s History Month — a time to celebrate the contributions of heroic women from the past, acknowledge their great strides in the present, and empower future generations of strong women.

This is important on so many different levels. Strong women become teachers for our young girls and let them know they can be anything they want. A female leader is more than just a figurehead. She is a main player in the game, brings new and innovative ideas to the table, and has the power to do anything.

Ever since women were granted the right to vote, our society has made progress in how women are treated — but the progress needs to pick up the pace. Even in today’s day and age, women still feel a need to prove themselves. To have a voice, women must speak much louder than men.

We hear all the time from great female leaders who have carved their own paths, and we learn from them how they did it. Their stories are often fraught with challenges and obstacles but shed light on the stereotypes that have surrounded our gender for decades.
To paraphrase Oprah Winfrey, who herself has a remarkable rags-to-riches story, so many women have realized their own self-worth with that “aha” moment. But the question is, “why do women still have to prove themselves”? While the answers are so vast, they all boil down to the fact that women have been entering the so-called man’s world at an increasingly greater pace each year.

Medicine was at one point a “man’s job.” So, too, was running a labor union, and of course, politics. Yet, our first female-majority New York City Council has put that myth to rest. The acceptance of the misnomer that women belong in the kitchen, raising families, or working solely as secretaries, is what has caused women to still earn less than men for doing the same job, and why women hold less than a third of all leadership roles.

We need to change this cultural norm. We can do this only by speaking out, by organizing, by getting involved, and by standing our ground. We need to stop the misnomer that there are traditional jobs that belong to women. That’s a huge fallacy that’s been perpetuated by none other than … men!

When it comes to what may be considered “women’s jobs or issues,” it seems all females are finally speaking up. From the stay-at-home mom who has one of the toughest jobs there is with no pay, to Hollywood actresses, everyone is jumping on the bandwagon. To make the greatest change, there must be passion. Women must speak from a place of authenticity. And most importantly, women need to stand together and support one another. We must build up each other, not tear each other down.

The way to change all of this, of course, is by changing the mindset of those who believe otherwise. We must challenge the system that created these stereotypes in the first place. This is why democracy plays such a vital role.

Anyone who actively participates in their own development and well-being can feel empowered to make positive choices to improve the status quo. By effectively participating, women can provide the impetus for stronger relationships. They can help break down communication barriers and they can teach others how to work together because, by nature, women are better nurturers. After all, for centuries women were the ones staying home having the babies and raising the children.

Women’s rights and democracy are inseparable. The Brennan Center for Justice even wrote about this topic in mid-March during Women’s History Month. What I found quite eye-opening in the article was that the United States was included for the first time on an annual list of back-sliding democracies. While I didn’t even know such a list existed, the thought that our country is exhibiting a “gradual but significant weakening of checks on government and civil liberties” was scary.

We have seen this with the abortion ban in Texas, and with our country’s lack of paid maternity leave. Across the world, paid maternity leave averages 29 weeks; the United States offers none. The Brennan Center article reports that our country is one of only six, and the only wealthy nation, without any form of national paid leave. Then there’s also the vast amount of gender inequity, even right here in progressive New York City. It should not have taken a Local 1180 lawsuit against the City to prove that female Administrative Managers were earning less than their male counterparts for doing substantially similar work. And despite our winning that lawsuit to the tune of $15 million, other predominantly female unions are now fighting that same battle – one that should not have to be fought at all

These examples are only a small fraction of the battles that women face. One step backward can lead to a downward spiral, which is exactly why democracy is so important. Member and community participation increases public trust in leaders, improves political effectiveness, and even strengthens the quality of policy decisions. This can clearly be seen with the recent passage of the NYC law that will require businesses to post both the minimum and maximum salary range in job listings. This will help level the paying field for women who have typically sold themselves short when asked during an interview what they expect in salary. Knowing they are competing mostly against men for the position, women have traditionally asked for a lower salary than men would ask for in hopes of having a greater chance of getting the job. 
Equality and freedom are intertwined the same as democracy and women’s rights. The more women get involved in the movement, the louder we speak out, the more men we get to support us, the greater our chances for equality and freedom.

Without democracy, women have almost no chance of ever standing at the same level — or rising higher — than men, who too often feel threatened and intimidated by the stereotypical “weaker sex.”

Wait, there’s another societal inaccuracy that needs to be addressed.