JEAN WILLIAMS
Wife, mother, and former special education teacher for eight years, she is currently working on a master's degree in public affairs reporting at Sangamon State University.
Is politics 'for men only'? How women lawmakers react
SPECIAL REPORT
Whatever the fate of the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, women can and do hold public office. Three articles report (1) on how & the 15 women in the legislature regard their role in public life, (2) on the status of women in the executive branch, I and (3) on how a legislative commission is seeking to carry out the mandate of the Equal Rights sections of the Illinois Constitution of 1970
ACCORDING TO most of Illinois' women legislators, women haven't accepted responsibility in the past for their political lives. This fact, coupled with the belief that politics is "men's business," has kept women from actively pursuing elective office.
The 15 women who serve in the General Assembly this session comprise the largest number in Illinois history. Twelve women, or 7 per cent, are members of the House of Representatives; three women, or 5 per cent, are members of the Senate. Obviously, these are rather low percentages of political participation. However, women lawmakers are optimistic that in future elections more women will run and be elected.
With 18 years of service, Sen. Esther Saperstein (D., Chicago) is the "dean" of women serving in the General Assembly. Sen. Saperstein said she has been "a sterling supporter of equal rights all my life." Four years ago she sponsored the controversial U.S. Equal Rights Amendment in the Senate, and she still hopes to see its passage this year. Elected to a Chicago aldermanic post in April, Sen. Saperstein announced in mid-April she was resigning her Senate seat in order to devote full time to her new position, although there was no legal problem as far as the state was concerned in holding seats simultaneously in the Senate and the Chicago City Council. "I am deeply grateful to the President of the Senate, Cecil Partee, who will assume sponsorship of ERA, an issue which must become law and which I will continue to vigorously support in my new role," she said.
Sen. Saperstein said she is "absolutely" certain that women will continue to serve in state government, particularly in elected offices. Rep. Susan Catania (R., Chicago) agreed. She says, "It's a very bright future. We've got the doors open." She added. "Women have always been discouraged about doing anything in public. Women are simply not supposed to be dealing with people in the 'world'—except, we are just as competent."
Sen. Dawn dark Netsch (D., Chicago) felt that being a woman was a positive, not negative, attribute in seeking office in her district. Theorizing that perhaps the strong, two-party competition in state politics over the generations had created what she termed a "private club atmosphere." Netsch added, "Women were never part of the club. It never occurred to them. The parties were in-grown and potent."
Netsch, an attorney and law professor, felt that because she had participated in male professions most of her life, she preferred not to be "pigeonholed" as a woman. "I'm a person first." Moreover, in regards to women seeking office, the senator remarked, "I will not support a woman just because she is a woman."
Not because of sex
Rep. Betty Lou Reed (R., Deerfield) criticized the media's claim that women had made significant gains in political office in the last election because of their sex. "The women elected in this General Assembly were not elected just because they are women .... We probably worked harder and were definitely qualified," Reed said.
Serving her first term in the House, Rep. Helen Satterthwaite(D., Urbana), a natural science laboratory technician, believes women will gradually increase their numbers at the supervisory and administrative levels, as well as in elective office. "We are beginning to gain experience at local levels and will have more qualified candidates to move up the ladder." she said.
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Women in the 79th General Assembly
Senators
Dist. Parly
34 D Hickey, Vivian V.Rockjord
13 D Netsch, Dawn darkChicago
11 D Saperstein, EstherChicago (resigned)
Representatives
8 R Barnes,JaneM. Oak Lawn
22 R Catania, SusanChicago
3 D Chapman, Eugenia S.Arlington Heights
41 R Dyer, GoudylochHinsdale
31 R Geo-Karis, Adeline JayZion
48 R Kent, Mary Lou Quincy
3 R Macdonald, Virginia B.Arlington Heights
32 R Reed, Betty LouDeerjield
52 D Satterthwaite,Helen F.Urbana
57 R Stiehl.CelesteM.Belleville
6 D Wilier, AnneHillside
57 D Younge, WyvetterH.East St. Louis
Rep. Celeste Stiehl (R., Belleville), who was appointed to an assistant minority leader post, a "first" tor a woman in the House, remarked, "It's an exciting time for women at all levels of government. There are definitely more women in office. Look at the school boards and city and township offices."
A lawyer and the first woman elected to the General Assembly from Lake County, Rep. Adeline Geo-Karis (R., Zion) observed, "Women have not been allowed to proceed in the educational, professional, and business world." But, she said the situation was changing. A supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment, Geo-Karis hoped that passage of the proposed Twenty-Seventh Amendment would enhance the status of housewives, in particular. Currently, she said, "Our laws don't recognize the many contributions that women make in our homes."
The woman's viewpoint
In contrast to the belief that more women would be elected in upcoming sessions, Rep. Reed speculated that the ratio of men to women in office would probably not change significantly. She reasoned, "A percentage of women are interested in gardening and the arts. I don't think it's every woman who is interested in politics and campaigning." Sen. Saperstein argued that women bring viewpoints, altitudes, and feelings to the General Assembly which are in contrast to those of men, adding, "Women have greater insight into human needs."
Iterating the belief that women legislators have a different perspective than men legislators, Rep. Eugenia Chapman (D., Arlington Heights) stated, "The experience of women, as such, is different. Women are more concerned about other people."
Even though Rep. Chapman hesitated in making generalizations about major differences between men and women legislators, she stressed that old myths such as, "Men think; women feel," were Just not true. "People are individuals. Different people respond in different ways."
Rep. Catania, a chemist, mother of five daughters, and youngest of Illinois' women legislators, stated, "Because of our culture we have more knowledge of consumer, education, and health problems .... Women are more intuitive than men, more empathetic, especially when dealing with constituents"
An opponent of ERA, Rep. Mary Lou Kent (R., Quincy) admitted that women do bring a different attitude towards government. "We are involved in the work. Women take it more seriously, the research and work."
Other women legislators mentioned that members of their sex seemed to have more faith in human nature, greater insight into human needs, and an altruistic outlook. Women accord governmental services such as education, public aid, and mental health, a higher priority than roads and buildings. An important difference between men and women legislators to Sen. Vivian Hickey (D., Rockford) is the idea that "men see officeholding as an adjunct to another professional career. It's nice not to have the pressure of wanting to build a lifetime career."
Repeating this idea in a slightly modified mode. Rep. Reed replied, "I am a legislator 18 hours a day, 12 months a year. My male colleagues don't have different attitudes than I, but because they are breadwinners, they must pick and choose how to make a living. They must have another job. Luckily, 1 don't have to."
Rep. Goudyloch Dyer (R., Hinsdale) concurred with her colleagues by adding, "There's an invisible shield, a stigma attached to being in politics. But, it's really fun and respectable to be involved. And that's why more women will have a more important role in the future."
What led to politics
Indeed, if women have a different motivation for seeking political office than their male counterparts, why do they choose to compete in a profession which is male-dominated? The answers, of course, are as varied as the individuals themselves.
First, the political activity of many of the women often led them to running for office themselves. At least 10 of the 15 legislators were former members of the League of Women Voters and had participated voluntarily in political campaigns and in promoting local issues.
Secondly, many of the women were encouraged by friends or their political party to seek office. Representatives Virginia Macdonald (R., Arlington Heights) and Anne Wilier (D.,Hillside), for instance, were elected in 1968 as delegates to the Constitutional Convention.
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After Rep. Macdonald's experience as a "Con Con" participant, she concluded, "I felt a kind of seriousness was lacking among some of the delegates, and I felt women in the legislature would be an advantage."
Newly elected. Rep. Jane Barnes (R., Oak Lawn) said, "I've always had an interest in good government." She and her family grew together, politically, in an atmosphere where political issues were hotly discussed at the dinner table.
Rep. Geo-Karis said that having been born abroad and then given many opportunities as a citizen of the United States made her feel that she owed something to this country and to the people of her district. Echoing a similar reason for seeking office. Rep. Catania remarked, "I thought I could do a better job than was being done for the people in my district, a job which was useful and paid a good salary."
Support from families
How do the husbands, families, and friends of women legislators react to their being involved in politics and government? Unequivocally, each of Illinois' women representatives and senators agreed that the supportive attitudes of their families and friends were extremely important, even essential.
"You have to be adaptable and flexible," said Rep. Chapman. "At first it was kind of a mixed feeling. Sometimes, I wash clothes at two in the morning." Another late evening task, Rep. Reed recalled, was finishing a dress for her youngest daughter. "There I was at the State House Inn at two in the morning hemming a skirt for the prom."
Rep. Catania, who hires two I housekeepers to help manage her busy household, said that her daughters enjoy their mother being a representative. "I believe it's important for children to have a stable household, but it's not imperative that I am the one providing that atmosphere."
Ranging in ages from 33 to 71, most of the women in the General Assembly have offspring who are grown and are not living at home. "They've cut their teeth in politics," said Rep. Macdonald, referring to her children. Some of the women reminisced that their husbands were skeptical, at first, about their wive running for office; however, they later found the men to be their greatest boosters.
The women legislators are definite about wanting to accomplish certain goals in this session. Economic conditions, consumer affairs, energy resources, housing, and funding of education are concerns most often mentioned
What character traits should women possess to compete for political office? Sen. Hickey answered by saying, "Women should be willing to lose an election, and be willing to accept no favors and ask no favors." Rep. Macdonald said, "If you have genuine interest and time to give and ability to devote to the job, you should run for office." Tenacity is what is needed, said Rep. Reed. "The political person is gregarious and interested in problems. In politics, all people are of the same breed," she added.
Rep. Kent felt that women sometimes focus on too specific an interest or cause. To be in politics. Rep. Kent advised, "Women should have well-rounded experiences. Women are going to have to become more versed in overall things." Rep. Chapman summarized her beliefs in this manner: "Men are qualified for office, per se, because of their sex. Why not women? We expect more of women." Rep. Satterthwaite listed several qualities which she believed women should possess: "Lots of stamina; some tact, but some aggressiveness so as to allow them to be assertive when necessary; a voice that projects well in group situations; and financial security, perhaps not necessary, but certainly helpful."
Definite about goals
Although they were uncertain about their political futures, and the possibility of seeking higher office, Illinois' women legislators were definite about wanting to accomplish certain goals in the 79th General Assembly. The economic condition of the state, consumer affairs, energy resources, housing, and funding of education were concerns mentioned most frequently by the women.
Sen. Saperstein, conscious of the need to hold spending down, said, " We need greater surveillance of state institutions to make sure they are providing services to meet people's needs." Two important goals to Sen. Hickey focused on helping the economically disadvantaged citizens of the state. "I would like to see tax incentives passed to encourage rehabilitation of old housing, and I want to get the sales tax off food and drugs," she stated.
Calling attention to the fact that there are pockets of unemployment in her district which run as high as 30 to 40 per cent. Rep. Catania is carefully studying Gov. Dan Walker's proposed accelerated building program and its subsequent impact upon jobs. "If the program only creates jobs for middle class whites then I'm not for it. Equal dignity and rights for everyone start with economic dignity."
Was Jefferson wrong?
The only Black female in the General Assembly, Rep. Wyvetter Younge (D., East St. Louis), is serving her first term. She is deeply concerned with the rising unemployment in her southern district. She, too, is vitally concerned about jobs for her constituents.
Almost two hundred years ago, Thomas Jefferson wrote, "Were our state a pure democracy, there would still be excluded from our deliberations . . . women, who, to prevent depravation of morals and ambiguity of issues, should not mix promiscuously in gatherings of men."
Today Illinois' women legislators have the opportunity to share in fundamental decision-making which affects the lives of both men and women in their districts. Individually, and collectively, they also have an opportunity to establish the kinds of leadership roles that other women seeking political office might emulate. ť
June 1975/Illinois Issues/165