having the lowest percentage of women serving

Where the women at? Listen: There are 134 lawmakers in the West Virginia House of Delegates and Senate. Two are female Democrats. Read that again. Thank you, Anitra Hamilton and Kayla Young. Wish there were 132 more of you. 

On the other side of the aisle, there’s nine Republican women in the House and four in the Senate.

Some facts: The Mountain State has the lowest percentage of Democrat and female lawmakers in the nation. Democrats — about 8%. Women — about 11%. 

Is that why we rank dead last in nearly every metric of family prosperity and wellness? Hmmm. Let me think. I’ll get back to you on that. Just kidding. 

Women are half the population. Yet their voices fall on many deaf ears. West Virginia has yet to have a female governor. And only one female member in both the U.S Senate and House. 

It was inspirational watching Virginia elect their first female governor this year. 

Good news: Our five largest cities all had female mayors at one time. Morgantown has had six. They currently have Mayor Danielle Trumble. 

Charleston’s first female mayor is the current one: Amy Shuler Goodwin. She’s adroitly captained a Charleston revival of sorts. Emphasizes outdoor activities and fitness, arts, music and entertainment. 

Goodwin brought the much beloved Sternwheel Regatta festival back from the brink. And found a way for Charleston to host the five-year USA Cycling Pro Road National Championships. 

Her vision has strengthened West Virginia families. This is telling. Statistically, female politicians put forward more pro-family policies. 

And we’d be remiss not to praise Charlene Marshall in Morgantown. Now in her 90s, she moves like a spry 80-year-old, mind sharp as a quill. She was Morgantown’s mayor from 1991 to 1998, as well as West Virginia’s first Black mayor. She also served over a decade in the House of Delegates as a Democrat. 

So why so few women in politics? Here’s one reason: many women are taught to fear their own voice. Taught to “make nice.” Believe that a difference of opinion is bad. 

The reality? Healthy discord is fantastic. Honest, decisive opinions are signs of strength and female autonomy. Woman as their own person apart from men. In contrast, passive agreement is the devil’s dogma. It makes women invisible. 

Sometimes silence is a choice. Other times men simply talk over women or ignore them. Shameful. 

Some interesting research findings: Men and women speak and write in about the same amount, just under different circumstances. Women tend to talk more in personal and social settings. Text more. Men often speak more in business, formal and hierarchical settings. They also statistically dominate online forums and debates. Women are no less intelligent. Do not have less merit. Much is the result of sexism.

Studies also reveal the success of visibility bias. This means, the loudest voice is listened to first. Loud does not equate with smart. But we give those voices more airtime.  

Conservatives, steeped in more patriarchal values, are fragile as cicada wings. Snow. The fragility is visible in the numbers. Do they not believe women capable of leading men? Apparently not. In the U.S. House of Representatives, there are more than twice as many female Democrats as female Republicans. In the U.S. Senate, female Democrats are three times more common than their Republican counterparts. I mean, wow. 

At the state level, as of 2024, across America, women comprised 31% of Democratic legislators — and only 15% of Republican ones. That’s bananas. 

Here’s the thing: Women run the world — dominating fields in health care and education, having and rearing babies — but men rule it. Often with an iron fist. Think Donald Trump, Xi Jinping, Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin. I could go on. You get the idea. 

But societies are changing. More men are dismantling sexism. Some good old boys clubs are gender integrating. Businesses are hiring and promoting more women. 

Bottom line? Times are evolving. Slowly. Surely.  Women: Run for office. Speak up. Support other women. Cheer them on. Don’t go along to get along. And men? Stop and listen.