After the primary wins of 5 women on June 8th, the morning shows on all three major networks and many headlines across the country touted this surprising victory as "The Year of the Woman", "Ladies Night", and "Women Rule."
It is 2010, several decades after the Women's Lib movement aimed its attention on gender inequality in laws and culture to put an end to discrimination, and still we are shocked when women win elections. Over half of our country's population are women. Over half of the voters in our district are women. Yet out of the 32 representatives that Texas has sent to the US House of Representatives, only 3 are women. In the entire history of Texas, with talented Texan women like Ann Richards and Barbara Jordan, we have only sent 6 women to the House.
Texas has a long way to go towards gender equality in politics. As the 2nd largest state, we rank 25th in the number of women in our legislature. In 2008, Texas had only 3 women candidates represent major parties in the general election while smaller states like Florida, Illinois, and New York had more. This year, I am one of only 7 women candidates in Texas, one of only 4 challengers for the US House who will be on the ballot in November representing a major party. I am the first woman ever to run for office in District 21, the first woman ever to win the Democratic nomination for this office, and the first woman ever to challenge Lamar Smith.
We have come a long way baby, but there is so much further to go. According to the 2009 census, women hold more bachelor's and graduate or professional degrees than men, while women still earn only $0.77 to every $1.00 earned by a man. Recently, Bloomberg News reported that top female CEOs are earning more than their male counterparts, but what this report leaves out is the extraordinary gender gap that still exists between women and men CEOs. Out of the 2009 Fortune 500 list of the world’s top-performing companies, they attributed only 13 CEOs to be women. In 2007, US Census Bureau reported that women in every educational attainment category earned less than their male peers.
Rep. Lamar Smith voted against the Equal Pay Bill in 2007, and every amendment to the Employment Discrimination Law since 2008. I am committed to leading our district, our state and our nation to a future where women can earn the same opportunities as men with the same pay... where women are afforded the same educational opportunities... where women are not discriminated against in housing or banking... where our laws show common sense in supporting comprehensive sexual education and a commitment to preserve a woman's right to choose... where children and families are put first and not torn apart by ineffective laws... and where we truly show support of our military families.
Go to LaineyForCongress.com and make an investment in the future of Texas. Or contribute online at Actblue.
--
Lainey Melnick
Candidate for US Congress
Texas 21st District
http://www.LaineyForCongress.com
On Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/...
On Twitter http://www.twitter.com/...
Paid for and authorized by the Lainey Melnick for Congress Committee