March 2021 WPLN Newsletter

Dear friend, 

As we honor Women's History Month this month, there are many women's achievements to celebrate, given the records women broke in last year's elections and the fact that the United States swore in its first woman vice president this year. And even now women continue to break glass ceilings -- for example, last week Deb Haaland was confirmed as President Biden's secretary of the interior, making her the first Native American Cabinet secretary, and on Saturday Louisiana elected its first Republican woman, Julia Letlow, to Congress.

These achievements, however, do not mean that we can afford to become complacent regarding women's representation or that the United States now has a truly reflective government. As you'll read in further detail below, a new Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) report has revealed that the gains for women were smaller in 2020 than in 2018 and that not only are women less than one-third of elected officials, they are also still underrepresented among all candidates.

There's still so much work to be done to support women in politics, and WPLN remains committed to our mission to educate, organize, and inspire women to enter public service across the country. It's for this reason I'm excited to share the launch of WPLN's National Advisory Council, which will enable us to expand our reach in additional states and support and encourage women early in their political journeys. And as we continue to roll out programs and resources, please don't hesitate to let me know what kind of content and resources you would appreciate seeing.

Onward,

Larissa

WPLN President and Co-Founder

WPLN President and Co-Founder Larissa Martinez joined Mia Garza McCord, President of the Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute, and Amy Kroll, Executive Director of the LBJ Women's Campaign School, for an International Women's Day discussion about why our country needs more women in office. Watch the Facebook Live here.

In our WPLN Facebook Live with Colorado Women's Alliance, WPLN Director of Programs and Partnerships Sarah Curran spoke with CWA Executive Director Joni Inman. They discussed CWA's work and the political landscape for women in Colorado. Watch the Facebook Live here.

WPLN released new merchandise -- featuring a Dolly Parton quote: "Find out who you are, and do it on purpose." Every purchase helps support WPLN's programming and efforts to elect more women! Buy yours here.

To celebrate International Women's Day on March 8, WPLN shared some quotes from our favorite women leaders. Read them here.

As a thank you for your support, we're inviting the first 25 people who sign up as Friends of WPLN to join us on March 26 for a private virtual screening and discussion of the recent documentary The Reunited States. We'll share a private viewing link in advance, watch it online at 6pm ET, and begin the discussion at 7:30pm ET. Learn how to become a Friend of WPLN here.

WASHINGTON POST | "What the election of Asian American GOP women means for the party": "Although American conservatism remains largely White, it has slowly but surely become less so. ... Any party that wants to win the nation’s increasingly multiracial electorate has to meet people where they are — in their languages, at their events and with support from their communities — or risk ceding these voters to the other party for good." Read more.

19TH NEWS | "Women are still less than one-third of Congress and state legislatures, even after two big election cycles": "Whether women continue to make gains in the state and national legislatures depends in large part on political parties’ efforts to attain parity when they are recruiting candidates and supporting them at their earliest stages. And women’s overall successes in 2022 specifically are likely to hinge on Republican efforts since midterm elections historically favor the party not in the White House, the report noted." Read more.

MARIE CLAIRE | "Grand New Party?": "We asked leading conservative women what to make of the past four years and how to approach the next. One point stood out: It’s time for the good old boys’ club to go. As Rep. Elise Stefanik (NY-21), founder of E-PAC, which helped fuel a record-breaking pink wave in November, told us, 'Women are very effective legislators and decision makers, and they’re good listeners, which ultimately makes you the most effective public servant. Frankly, that’s how some of our women Republicans won.'" Read more.

MILITARY FAMILIES MAGAZINE | "Military spouse seeks to change landscape for women in politics": "Military families are uniquely fit for public service by the nature of their lifestyle. We are afforded an opportunity to relocate every few years, giving us the chance to see the best (and most challenging) aspects of our society. We would be doing a disservice to our experience if we weren’t using it to contribute to the improvement of our communities. And it is important that the voices of military spouses be represented in government." Read more.

Rutgers University's Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) is a leading source of data, research, and analysis regarding women in politics and government in America. CAWP recently released updated fact sheets on the "gender gap" that exists in American political participation; these fact sheets break down the differences between men and women's political participation as well as the differences among women.

"Discussions about the gender gap are often distilled into one succinct takeaway: women are more likely to vote for Democrats and men are more likely to vote for Republicans. However, the most recent academic research on the gender gap and women voters, as well as the data we have collected and curated here at CAWP, suggests a far more nuanced picture of women voters in American politics." Read more.

And this week, CAWP released its full report on the 2020 elections, titled Measuring Success: Women in 2020 Legislative Elections. This report contains data and analysis to help explain the 2020 elections, in which women set new records for congressional and state legislative office, and to look ahead for the future of women in electoral politics. Read the report Measuring Success: Women in 2020 Legislative Elections here. 

READING | First Ladies of the Republic: Martha Washington, Abigail Adams, Dolley Madison, and the Creation of an Iconic American Role by Jeanne E. Abrams: "The position of First Lady was not officially authorized or defined, and the place of women in society was more restricted than it is today. These capable and path-breaking women not only shaped their own roles as prominent Americans and 'First Ladies,' but also defined a role for women in public and private life in America." Learn more here.

WATCHING | PBS' Women's History Month documentaries and stories: Celebrate Women's History Month by watching PBS' content that celebrates the accomplishments, experiences, and contributions of women throughout history. Learn more here.

LISTENING TO | Just Women's Sports, hosted by professional women's soccer player Kelley O'Hara: Since recent events have shined a light on the ways men's and women's sports are prioritized and elevated differently, we wanted to share a podcast hosted by a woman athlete, speaking to other women athletes: "Featuring Olympians, MVPs, world champions and breakout stars, the Just Women’s Sports podcast provides an unprecedented look into what it takes to be a professional athlete today." Listen here.

EXCITED FOR | The launch of WPLN's National Advisory Council: We recently announced the formation and first members of our National Advisory Council! We're excited to work with these members, each of whom have championed efforts to support women seeking public office and will be instrumental in helping WPLN carry out its mission across the country. Meet the first members of our National Advisory Council and learn more here.

• Susanna Salter, politician and first woman to be elected mayor in the United States (March 2)
• Jackie Joyner-Kersee, a track and field athlete and Sports Illustrated's best female athlete of the 20th century (March 3)
• Geraldyn (Jerrie) Cobb, an aviator and the first woman to pass astronaut testing (March 5)
• Josephine Cochrane, inventor who invented the first commercially successful dishwashing machine (March 8)
• Graciela Olivarez, a lawyer who was the first woman and the first Latina to graduate from Notre Dame Law School (March 9)
• Clare Boothe Luce, congresswoman from California who became the first American woman appointed to a major ambassadorial post abroad (March 10)
• Tammy Duckworth, a U.S. Army veteran and U.S. Senator who was the first woman with a disability to be elected to Congress, the first Thai American woman to be elected to Congress, and the first senator to give birth while in office (March 12)
• Simone Biles, the most decorated American gymnast (March 14)
• Ruth Bader Ginsberg, the second woman of five to ever serve on the Supreme Court (March 15)
• Verda Welcome, politician who was the second Black woman to be elected to a state senate in the U.S. (March 18)
• Edith Nourse Rogers, politician who was the first woman elected to Congress from Massachusetts (March 19)
• Loretta Mary Aiken (stage name of Jackie "Moms" Mabley), a stand-up comedian and one of the first openly gay stand-up comedians (March 19)
• Mary Kies, inventor and the first woman to receive a U.S. patent (March 21)
• Helene Hale, politician and the first woman to serve as a mayor in Hawaii (March 23)
• Dorothy Height, a civil rights and women's rights activist who served as president of the National Council of Negro Women (March 24)
• Dorothy Constance Stratton, the first woman to be commissioned an officer in U.S. Coast Guard and the first director of the U.S. Coast Guard Women's Reserve during World War II (March 24)
• Flannery O'Connor, a novelist (March 25)
• Nancy Pelosi, congresswoman from California and the first woman in U.S. history to be Speaker of the House (March 26)
• Sandra Day O'Connor, a Supreme Court Justice and the first woman of five to ever serve on the Court (March 26)

ICYMI: Colorado Women's Alliance "Let's Have a Conversation About COVID-19 Vaccines": On March 19, our Colorado training partner hosted a discussion about COVID-19 vaccines, discussing everything from safety to government involvement. Watch the discussion here.

ICYMI: Virginia Conservative Women's Alliance "Campaign and Candidate Training": On March 23, our Virginia training partner held a training session on messaging and the media. Check VCWC’s website for more details.

MARCH 26 | WPLN's private virtual screening and discussion of the documentary The Reunited States: WPLN is inviting the first 25 people who sign up as Friends of WPLN to join us on March 26 for a private virtual screening and discussion of the recent documentary The Reunited States. Learn how to become a Friend of WPLN here.

APRIL 1 | California Women's Leadership Association's "Women in Education": Join our California training partner for the first event in their "Together We Rise" series! Learn about the issues keeping California's public schools closed and how you can get more involved in your local district. For more details and to RSVP, email cwla@cwla.us. 

APRIL 9 | Colorado Women's Alliance "Does Your Community Know Your Name?": Do you want to have a bigger voice in the decisions that affect you, your family, your business, and your community? Find out the most efficient and effective ways to communicate with and influence your elected officials. Register here.

APRIL 13, 14, 16, 20, and 27 | She Holds the Key virtual training series: Our Michigan training partner is holding a series of virtual training sessions, on everything from developing your campaign message to expanding your network to fundraising. Learn more here.

APRIL 24 | The Pocketbook Project's "Campaigning and Covid: Part 2": Our Massachusetts training partner's next webinar will continue the discussion on running for office and how to navigate them during COVID. Register here and check their website for additional details.

MAY 1 | Louisiana Women Lead's Masked Mardi Gras Ball: Join our Louisiana training partner on Saturday, May 1, for a Masked Ball to celebrate the movement of center-right women in office! Tickets, sponsorships, and a hotel room block are now available online. It is a masked ball and there is adequate room for social distancing. A prize will be awarded for best mask. Register here.

Support WPLN programs and resources by making a contribution today!

Women’s Public Leadership Network (WPLN) is a non-profit organization organized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent provided by law.