In the Wednesday-morning quarterbacking that followed last week’s elections in the U.S., one of the more significant outcomes barely earned a headline: more women than ever before have been sent to Washington by their constituents. When the legislative session opens in January, the roll call will include 78 female Representatives (up from 73), and 20 female Senators—up from 17—making Congress a more diverse place, if only slightly. New Hampshire will be represented exclusively by women; two Senators and two Representatives.
Outside of the Beltway in state senate chambers and gubernatorial mansions, things will be a bit more heterogeneous as well, with South Carolina’s State Senate, historically a bastion of maleness, electing its first female Senator, and New Hampshire its first female governor.
Though researchers caution that women legislators and other elected officials are most effective in bringing about substantive reforms when their numbers inch closer to a majority within a designated legislative body—in January, Congress will still be only 18 percent women—this new diversity brings a fresh perspective to the Capitol. It also may bring more empathy for the poor, the infirm, and the vulnerable in our society, regardless of political party affiliation.
It can hardly be a bad thing to have a few more seats at the table of power.
In the Wednesday-morning quarterbacking that followed last week’s elections in the U.S., one of the more significant outcomes barely earned a headline: more women than ever before have been sent to Washington by their constituents. When the legislative session opens in January, the roll call will include 78 female Representatives (up from 73), and 20 female Senators—up from 17—making Congress a more diverse place, if only slightly. New Hampshire will be represented exclusively by women; two Senators and two Representatives.
Outside of the Beltway in state senate chambers and gubernatorial mansions, things will be a bit more heterogeneous as well, with South Carolina’s State Senate, historically a bastion of maleness, electing its first female Senator, and New Hampshire its first female governor.
Though researchers caution that women legislators and other elected officials are most effective in bringing about substantive reforms when their numbers inch closer to a majority within a designated legislative body—in January, Congress will still be only 18 percent women—this new diversity brings a fresh perspective to the Capitol. It also may bring more empathy for the poor, the infirm, and the vulnerable in our society, regardless of political party affiliation.
It can hardly be a bad thing to have a few more seats at the table of power.
