Helen Sommers: An Oral History

Women Advances in Government
Governmental girl power is evident in bills
ranging from women’s health to domestic violence,
in the way legislators represent their constituents,
and even in women legislators’ dealings with colleagues
of both genders.
Women legislators say they still encounter remnants
of the days when men ruled the rostrum. But
lawmakers of both genders agree women are changing
the climate here in both style and substance.
It shows as they go about their business just up
the hill from the birthplace of the riot-grrl culture,
the new-wave feminist movement born in downtown
Olympia’s punk-rock scene. These are sensibleshoed,
smart-suited women who aren’t shy about
touting their show of force.
During the governor’s State of the State Address,
they gave themselves a standing ovation when he
mentioned their record numbers. Two weeks ago
they hosted a bipartisan news conference to promote
female-sponsored legislation.
Women are good listeners, say both male and
female lawmakers. They are more open and inclusive
in decision-making.
“Maybe that’s because we didn’t play football,
and it didn’t matter who got the touchdown or the
home run,” said Sen. Betti Sheldon, D-Bremerton.
This session women are flexing their muscles by
proposing legislation that would create a women’s
commission to promote gender equality. They want
to ensure screening for breast and cervical cancer
for low-income women and more protection and
services for victims of domestic violence.
Several have introduced legislation to create a
state office of women’s health. And they have secured
bipartisan support in both chambers mandating
insurance coverage for female contraceptives.
Courage in a lapel pin
The women lawmakers are proud of the informal
clubs they have formed to help them cope with working
in a traditionally man’s world - even the Mean
Old Bitches, which doesn’t have a membership list
or meetings. Women simply give a knowing wink
or nod when they meet up with others wearing the
tiny golden M.O.B. lapel pins.
pg. 257
“I wear it when I’m feeling feisty,” said Rep.
Karen Schmidt, R-Bainbridge Island.
The women say the group’s name comes from
male colleagues’ reactions when they stand up for
their beliefs.
“I’ve been accused of being aggressive. I wonder
what they would call me if I was a man doing
the same thing,” said Schmidt, who recently had
a book on her desk called “Leadership Secrets of
Attila the Hun.”
“If you work and fight hard for something you
believe in, why is it different depending on what
sex you are?”
Former Sen. Jeannette Wood, R-Woodway,
said she would rub her M.O.B. pin while enduring
hostile testimony in committee.
“Sometimes during the Legislature, things get
tense,” said one lobbyist M.O.B. member. “It gives
us courage.”
Such bonding has given women strength to
change the system in ways both big and small.
When they learned of the legendary Open Fly, an
all-male summer golf tournament for lawmakers
and lobbyists, they created the Double Cup tournament
for ladies.
A national trend
The accomplishments of women have been
significant. In 1990, six of them, dubbed the Steel
Magnolias by their male colleagues, wrote the
Growth Management Act, created to help deal
with urban sprawl. Women also wrote and promoted
the citizens’ initiatives that created a state
spending limit and the commission regulating
campaign spending.
The difference that Washington women are
making parallels national trends. A survey of state
legislators nationwide, completed last summer,
shows women are more likely to bring citizens
into the legislative process, to govern openly
rather than behind closed doors, and to be more
responsive to groups such as minorities and the
disadvantaged, which traditionally have not had
a strong voice in government.