Women's Forums aim to amplify women's voices in policymaking

I got the following via e-mail today from the Jennifer Brunner campaign, which you can read on her website.

http://jenniferbrunner.com/index.php/blog/post/please_join_me_for_a_wome...

Brunner is in the midst of a series of Women’s Forums around the state, joining groups of local women to talk with women AND men about the impact of government policies on women and their families. She had one last week in Akron which one young woman who attended told me was very educational and productive.

Brunner says, “Women still make up only 10% of corporate boards and 17% of the U.S. Senate. As distinguished scholar Linda Tarr-Whelan has documented, a critical mass of women in leadership roles is necessary before we achieve the kind of balanced leadership that reflects the shared experiences and values of men and women in the decision-making process. Only with increased numbers of women in elected office can we expect to see addressed women and family-centered concerns such as childcare, paid sick leave and family leave.”

Amen, sister.

She provides the following information about upcoming forums:

”Please join a panel of local women and me to discuss what is happening and how changes in government policy can make a difference for our working families. Women's Forums will be held on December 1st at 7:30 pm in Marietta, December 3rd at 7:30 pm in Lancaster, December 8th at 7:00 pm in Toledo, December 9th at 7:00 pm in Dayton, December 14th at 7:30 p.m. in Cincinnati, and December 15th at 7:30 p.m. in Steubenville.”

Wait — did she say “Marietta”? I wonder if Marietta resident Jennifer Garrison, who is now gunning to replace Brunner as secretary of state, will appear and candidly discuss HER stands on women’s issues, like the anti-choice Stupak-Pitts Amendment which Brunner calls ”an egregious mistake.” I wonder if she would have the guts to come to a Women’s Forum and explain why she won’t support a bill that seeks to prevent unplanned pregnancies and decrease the need for abortions.

That the Ohio Democratic Party continues to be so sanguine about fielding a candidate who may be a woman but whose stands on women’s issues don’t reflect the positions, needs or lives of most other women demonstrates just how badly we need to elect Jennifer Brunner to the U.S. Senate. Too many men aren’t really listening, and we need to achieve that “critical mass” Brunner speaks of, so that women’s needs aren’t always pushed off to the side as just not all that important.