BY DAVE PARRO
The dozen female Republican state lawmakers who formed Women's Voices Illinois point to a number of factors as to why women don't get involved in politics. Among them are disillusionment with the process, reluctance to get involved in mud-slinging campaigns and the intimidating amounts of money it takes to run for office.
The GOP House members kicked off their three-day "Listening Tour" this week, the first step in trying to get women across the state to make their voices heard. Of 177 legislators in Springfield, only 49 are women. That's certainly not equal representation.
The ladies hope the infighting among the male leaders in Springfield this year will encourage women to find their political voices. They see inflated egos and too much testosterone, and they think more female lawmakers would result in more collaboration and compromise.
The number of women in the Illinois Legislature is shrinking, they say, hence the formation of Women's Voices Illinois. But what exactly will it take to motivate more women to put their lives on hold and head to Springfield? The members in the group say men are more likely to volunteer to run for office, while women have to be asked. So they plan to start recruiting.
But it's also about getting women to vote, stay informed and support candidates who will support women's causes. After all, as the group pointed out, 52 percent of Illinois voters are women. There's huge potential there for changing the political landscape.
The Democratic Party has fared much better in Illinois when it comes to electing women to the Legislature. In the House, there are 12 Republican women and 24 Democratic women. In the Senate, there are three Republicans and 10 Democrats. That speaks volumes. These women have a tough road ahead of them when it comes to trying to increase their representation in the male-dominated Republican Party.
Why are they only Republican Women? Why can't women unite and strive for more representation as a whole?