Women make up over half of the US population but just a fourth of Congress
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n 2021, although women make up 51% of the United States population, they only make up 26.4% of Congress. A generationally sexist society contributes to the marginalization of women and, more specifically, women in politics. As women begin to climb the political ladder like never before, they face harsh criticism and pushback on account of their gender, race and other identities.
sume they don’t know what they’re talking about. They are dismissed.” This misconception is not only evident in the political realm, but also in all other job fields. According to Harvard Business Review, women do not apply for jobs unless they meet 100% of the requirements, whereas men only need to meet 60% of the requirements beforehand. DiBrienza has grappled with her inherent biases as a Double standards woman running for office. “It’s made me question myIn 2020, more women ran for political positions self and think, ‘Maybe I’m just not as competent as that than ever before. Despite these advances, gender norms guy is,’” DiBrienza said. and stereotypes still affect DiBrienza feels these women in politics. barriers make it more difDr. Jennifer DiBrien- “Society encourages, uplifts and ficult for women to purza, a member of the protects [cisgender] men more sue a career in politics. Palo Alto Board of Edu“Men feel entitled to leadthan it does women.” cation, sees these stereoership positions in a way Dr. Jennifer DiBrienza, that women often don’t,” types manifest in society. Palo Alto Board of Education member DiBrienza said. “There is “Women are taught not to show off, not to brag and an argument to be made to be modest,” DiBrienza said. “It is [considered] not that women don’t put themselves out there, but society polite for women to toot their own horn, sell themselves encourages, uplifts and protects [cisgender] men more as qualified or be overly competitive.” than it does women.” While women in politics are criticized for exhibiting While each woman’s experience in politics is unique, traits such as competitiveness or pride, men are praised many have come out saying that they have dealt with for the same actions. “[Society] has less tolerance for gendered and racial discrimination. Yan Zhao, the women being aggressive, putting themselves out there mayor of Saratoga, has encountered double standards and standing up for themselves [than it does for cisgen- throughout her career, both as a woman and a Chinese der men],” DiBrienza said. American. Society enforces the misconception that women are A woman’s discrimination in politics is not always less competent than men, meaning their experience from indirect products of society, and can in fact be and knowledge is more likely to be questioned. “I’ve very targeted and personal. As a mother running for a talked to a lot of women who say that their professional government position, Zhao was criticized for her diverexpertise is minimized,” DiBrienza said. “People as- gence of society’s expectation that a woman’s purpose
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