Why Women Shy Away From Running for Office

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/28/opinion/why-women-shy-away-from-running-for-office.html

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To the Editor:

“Winning? Women’s Problem Is Actually Deciding to Run” (The Upshot, Oct. 25) identified a critical reason more women do not run for political office. One of the most effective ways in which women running for public office can improve their confidence and eliminate self-doubt is through formal political campaign training.

Such training includes topics like public speaking, campaign staffing, use of social media, fund-raising and effective organizing, taught by professionals experienced in their respective fields.

PATRICIA RUSSO

Executive Director

Women’s Campaign School at Yale

New Haven

To the Editor:

It’s not an “ambition gap” that holds women back from our rightful place in elected office, but a systemic flaw in our politics that prioritizes fund-raising prowess over ability, experience and character. “Winning? Women’s Problem Is Actually Deciding to Run” was right on the money except for this glaring omission.

Political campaigning is by nature an “old boys’ club” — women haven’t even had the right to vote for a century yet, while men have been campaigning for more than two centuries. Add in that today to win a seat in Congress costs an average of $1.6 million.

Research also shows that women express more concerns about attracting donors, and in a survey of state legislators, 56 percent of women agreed that it is “harder for female candidates to raise money than male candidates.” So it’s not surprising that public service subtly favors men.

All this is to say that Hillary Clinton shouldn’t stand as the latest, best example of a female candidate pursuing office, but instead mark the beginning of a sea change in American politics.

GABRIELA SCHNEIDER

Washington

The writer is chief communications officer for Issue One, which promotes campaign finance reform.