by Johanna Ginsberg
NJJN Staff Writer

January 22, 2009

Women are less likely to run for office if they are not asked, and less likely to be asked to run than men, according to research conducted by the Center for American Women and Politics at the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University.

On Wednesday, Jan. 28, the Community Relations Committee of United Jewish Communities of MetroWest NJ will hold a daylong training program for Jewish women who want to be involved in public life. More than 40 women have already signed up to participate.

“Our end goal is to educate Jewish women to be more involved in the political process around the state. Women of other minorities are running, supported, and beginning to win. We want Jewish women to remain at the table at all levels, from educational boards to state legislatures, and on to Congress,” said CRC associate Melanie Gorelick.

In advance of the program, NJJN spoke with Debbie Walsh, CAWP director, who will moderate a roundtable of Jewish women elected officials at the training.

NJJN: Why should Jewish women attend this event?

Walsh: We know women bring a different perspective to politics and the political process. We want a representative and diverse democracy that represents the concerns of all citizens. Although we like and respect white male lawyers, we want to make sure our government is made up of a cross section of the population. Women make up 50 percent of the population. So there are issues of equity and substance. Women are more likely to feel responsible to represent the needs of people not normally represented — women, people of color, and poor people.

We also know there is a diversity among women, and we want women of all kinds — all races, religions, and ethnicities — [in the political process]. We have an idea that difference brings value added to the public dialogue.

NJJN: How are Jewish women doing in politics in New Jersey?

Walsh: Jewish women in the legislature are doing fairly well in terms of percentages of overall women, but women in general are fairing so poorly. But we are doing better in New Jersey than in the nation — New Jersey is now 12th in the nation. Before we started “Ready to Run” [a bipartisan CAWP program designed to get women into politics], New Jersey was ranking in the bottom 10. We learned it takes active intervention to bring change. Wanting it is not enough. We know from our research that women are less likely to run if they are not asked, and that they are less likely to be asked. So it’s important to support and recruit women to run for office.

NJJN: What’s the most important thing you hope women will get out of this training?

Walsh: There are a few things. First, a good overview of the political process in New Jersey and the way campaigns work in the state and how to position yourself if you want to run for office, if you’re seeking an appointment, or you want to get involved in your own community.

We’ll speak to various levels of getting ready for office if you’re thinking of running this year or next year or just looking at long-term positioning.

NJJN: Do women, and particularly Jewish women, have a specific impact on policy agendas?

Walsh: Overall, women have a sense of needing to represent those not normally represented. We do not have research that breaks this down by religion. We do have a sense, from off-the-record gatherings of elected Jewish women, that Jewish women have a sense of commitment and responsibility to make the world a better place. Jewish women bring to the table that cultural sense of responsibility.

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