Several Utah women are working to increase gender equal representation in state politics.
Eden Jones said it was in her senior year of high school that she first realized how much female representation in politics could affect her life. She was in government classes when the 2016 presidential election took place.
“I remember having the problem at stake go through my mind all at once,” Jones said. “For the first time in history, we could have had a female president.”
Jones, a political science student at BYU, said he got chills when he saw an image of Susan B. Anthony’s grave covered in “I voted” stickers put on by a woman during the 2016 election. Told.
“It made me realize how important it is for these women to exercise the rights they fought for,” Jones said.
Of the current 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, 123 are women. None of these women are from Utah, despite winning her four seats in the House. Several have run for office, but Utah has never elected a female senator.
Most recently, both Becky Edwards and Ally Isom ran against Mike Lee for a chance at a Senate seat in the Republican primary, but both women lost by just 30% and 8% of the vote. I was.
Provo City Councilman Katrice McKay said she would like to see a Utah woman on the council.
“There’s no question that we need all perspectives,” says MacKay. “We have to represent everyone.”
While McKay said she believes women should be represented by government, she believes these conversations leave out the aspect of personal choice. I urge people not to underestimate the many women within.
“I think it’s a shame that women don’t value staying at home and raising children,” McKay said. “I think it’s unfair. It’s hard work.”
Jones said a woman who devotes her life to household chores is just as admirable as a woman who pursues a career in politics. I think it tends to become more common.
“Culturally, I think there are a lot of situations where women don’t feel supported in their careers and feel directed towards their homes,” she said. I think you’re stuck with
Jones said she hopes there will be a cultural shift and more women will act as representatives of Utah’s legislature.
“I don’t think it eliminates men’s responsibilities at home and women’s responsibilities in conference halls,” Jones said of traditional family roles.
Provo City Councilman Shannon Ellsworth has used her position to encourage women to run for public office and participate in politics.
“It was important to me that the City of Provo move closer to gender equality with its boards and commissions,” said Elisworth. “My hope is that we can have a more diverse experience at the table.”
