Utah has a long history of women's rights
The territory of Utah started early in women's suffrage, temporarily allowing females the vote in 1870 — a quarter of a century before the passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
The state also had women in local politics early, starting with the Kanab Ladies Town Board in 1912. Kanab thus had Utah's first female mayor, Mary G. Wolley Howard — the fourth female mayor in the nation.
Women now make up about 30 percent of elected officials from Utah's 25 biggest cities, but Midvale Mayor JoAnn Seghini is the sole female mayor in that group.
In contrast, women make up 49.5 percent of Utah's 2.6 million-strong population.
"There has been a long, continuing conversation about what difference does it make for women to be in politics," said Kathryn L. MacKay, associate professor of history at Weber State University. "We need to hear women's voices in the political arena because women have different concerns from their own experiences — particularly in a democracy."
MacKay, author of "Women in Politics: Powering the Public Sphere," was quick to point out that women aren't categorically without fault.
"I don't think women are any more ethical or any more wise than men," she said.
Women often get involved in politics through volunteering and school positions, MacKay said. However, they seldom rise to the top rungs of power.
In Utah, that tends to play out the same way it does in states on the East Coast, she said. But in surrounding states, Utah sticks out for its high percentage of men in positions of political authority.
Alice Steiner, co-president of the League of Women Voters of Utah, encourages the fairer sex to get involved politically in any way they can.
"Women are not as competitive as men, and therefore I think that they are a moderating influence, or they can be a moderating influence," Steiner said. "It does seem women have a different bent on the way they look at things — maybe a lot more, 'Are we doing the right thing?' than the bottom line."
To learn more about local politics or to volunteer with the League of Women Voters, visit wvutah.org/league.html.
E-MAIL: rpalmer@desnews.com
Recent comments
As long as women get treated differently in the court system than...
Art | May 10, 2009 at 3:39 p.m.
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime 1:11 a.m.
- UVU beats SUU; USU wins big 12:57 a.m.
- BYU spikers end season with a loss 12:55 a.m.
- Iverson may be headed to 76ers 12:34 a.m.
- Credit Coug defense for win 12:33 a.m.
- Aggies blow away T-birds 12:32 a.m.
- Mo steals show in Cavaliers' victory 12:31 a.m.
- Editorial: Facilitate Big Brother? 12:22 a.m.
- Mom befriends wife of PTSD vet 12:21 a.m.
- Political clash over U.S. debt 12:21 a.m.
- Cave to be sealed with body inside
- Predicting the unpredictable: BYU wins
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
- Vegas, Poinsettia bowls or bust
- BYU football: 5 keys to victory
- Glover gives Utes last-second upset
- Cougars turn back Wildcats'
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
- Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
- BYU is champion of the state
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
396 - Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
150 - Thunder rolls by Jazz
136 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
115 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
115 - Editorial: Poor welcome for Palin
113 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
88 - Hall's legacy measured today
75 - Y. focused on 10-win season
73 - Letters: C02 causes warming
70
I wanted to tell them not to go. I dropped subtle hints. "My money is on...
When I was a kid, I worshipped my grandpa. He was undoubtedly my hero....
watch out for next year for sure, the negatives are just closet (and...
And something else, I generally follow players from the state schools when...
I could care less that Max Hall said what he did. The feeling is mutual BYU...
Dear Max, probably could have done without that comment. Probably would've...
As a Utah fan, let me first say congratulations to Max Hall, the Cougars, and...
Geno's and Pat's are good.. but, they are mostly for tourists, the real...
(You even got a middle initial... how's that for 'ya Max) It's nice to see...
Even today, I still cannot get enough of this movie or Charles Gitonga Maina....
...disappointed with Max Hall's comments that he hates everything about UofU....
Over the last few days I read comments of people complaining about tasteless...


