Students in Politics

Student Government Association President Katie Palillo '10 and Senior Class President Chelsea Zimmerman '10 talk about their roles as elected officials in Barnard's peer government.

More American women than men may be graduating from colleges these days, but they aren’t choosing to run for political office in equal numbers. Men still outnumber women in elected office at all levels, including the national. In the U.S. Congress today, only 17 women serve in the Senate and 73 voting delegates in the House of Representatives (three additional female territorial delegates have limited or no voting rights). Women make up just 24 percent of state legislatures. To find out why women still lag behind in politics after making great strides in other careers, Barnard talked to alumnae with a wide range of political experience. Some are just starting out; some have said good-bye to political campaigns after spending years in elected office.

Not surprisingly, their thoughts varied as widely as their life experiences. Some talked about how women need support and mentors to overcome the family and cultural constraints that keep many from running for office. They discussed the need to work and volunteer in their communities and build a base of support. Others focused on the difficulties women face trying to fund their political campaigns.
But whatever their point of view, the alumnae did agree on one thing: The future for women in politics is anything but bleak.

Read about six Barnard women working in Politics in Barnard Magazine, including senior Chelsea Zimmerman.