Ending Divisiveness: Are Women Better at Bipartisanship?
January 17, 2011
by Patricia Garrison
|
A quick thought: What if all the men in Congress took a long weekend – just a few days off — and left the women to do the people’s business without them? True, there wouldn’t be very many left roaming the halls of Congress, given the paucity of women in either the House or the Senate. But, would there be less partisanship?
Given the times, women are far from immune to partisanship, whether or not they hold office. But, women in Congress are acutely aware of their minority status and how hard it was to get elected as a woman in the first place. These facts of life certainly contribute to a more collegial atmosphere, but I think it also has something to do simply with being female.
A recent New York Times article tells how it was Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Shultz (D-Fla), and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi at the bedside of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords when she opened her eyes earlier this week – not just as colleagues, but as close friends. Yes, they’re all Democrats, but as it turns out, female bonds of friendship or, at very the least, basic civility, frequently cross party lines. As the article discusses, Democratic and Republican women are known to celebrate together at baby showers and the like, enjoy each other’s company, and unwind on bi-partisan softball teams (unlike the men). Together, they share the challenges and experiences of their lives, good and bad.
If we think about all of this as women, it’s not terribly surprising. We’re not perfect, but we are known for our collaborative skills and a leadership style that tends to seek consensus. From Facebook pages to PTA meetings to workplaces, we want to connect, to find common ground, to ratchet down anger and mean-spiritedness. I witness it every day, in countless ways big and small and I trust you do as well. The New Agenda is an example of how women with sharply divergent views can come together around issues that affect all of us – ending sexism, women in leadership, and our desire for a happy, vibrant future for our daughters and sons.
“There are experiences and issues that bond us together, and we understand that we are still deep in the minority in terms of being women”, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Republican from Washington State, is quoted as saying. “We often work together on things that are important to women and children and families, and there is a unique opportunity that we have, being women, to work on these issues together.”
Collaboration, civility and common ground, aren’t just “nice”, they’re vital. As we move through turbulent times, it is women’s ”style” that may well save us.
Patrica,
Excellent observations about the differences in how women and men deal with issues and ultimately resolve them.
The pendelum has to swing the other way and it’s way past time for patriarchy to no longer have a strangle hold on power. It’s time to recognize the value and importance that “matriarchy” brings to the table. I’m not advocating women doing what men have done and hog power for themselves. I do agree with you that women should have an equal place at the table. The balance they would bring would make a world of difference in how problems are solved and, subsequently, how we choose to govern our lives.
The big question is how to convince men that this “sea change” in the power structure (and getting rid of the male-dominated power hierarchy) would be as good for them as it would for women?
I check out face the nation yesterday with Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Anthony Weiner,a new republican guy and Michelle Bachmann calling in. everyone stayed in campaign rhethoric and did not give an inch. not encouraging. I would hope that women at the table would help defy the extreme partisanship. but it seems this is not necessarily so. rather some individual congress people will be able to get along with some from the other party.
my expectation was to see them think about common ground. i personally would like to see a discussion on gun control. nobody seems to have a stomach for it. even if you are a second amendment supporter, it does not need to be interpreted that everyone has access to all kind of guns. there is agreement that mentally unstable people should not get guns. but the evidence is displayed over and over again, that we are not able to recognize mental problems early on, and have no political will to treat the affected group. so of course there will not be lists to avoid that unstable people get guns by background checking.
Marille,
The way I see it, as long as women have little to no power in Congress, they will do as they are told. Look at Palin, for example. She doesn’t toe the line and the GOP establishment is going after her as much as the dems are. The boyz in politics don’t mind a small number of women in politics to appease the women and give the impression that we actually “have a place at the table”, but in reality, the boyz want total control and the women better follow the party line or they will be summarily dismissed.
Your “black and white” view on why these women were being partisan does not take in the the “why”. Instead of putting all the fault on the women, women must learn to step back and look at the big picture and recognize that the reason we still only have 17% representation, despite being more than half the population is because women don’t support each other and hold women to a higher standard than they do men.
Leave your Response Want an avatar? Get a gravatar!
Community Room
February 22, 2012 at 11:22 am
February 17, 2012 at 2:39 pm
February 6, 2012 at 4:25 pm
January 30, 2012 at 2:36 pm
January 26, 2012 at 4:38 pm
January 23, 2012 at 1:04 pm
January 15, 2012 at 11:37 am
January 9, 2012 at 6:36 pm
BUILD your NETWORK
Our Network of College Women
Protecting our Teenage Girls
We’re in the Media »
Click to see our latest stories in the media
More Stories »Recent Comments
The Latest from our Blog
Archives
Pioneer Mentors
Blogroll
Find us Online