But even that mundane experience is worth something women have practical experience at deciding what to buy and finding the bargains. Just 9 out of 100 senators are women and just 54 out of 435 representatives are women. That s an appalling record for one of the world s model democracies. According to the Center for the American Woman and Politics, the United States ranks 43rd in women s representation among the 106 nations with freely elected governments. Of course, women don t speak with one voice.
Women hold a variety of views on everything from getting more money to spending it.
But women also share life experiences that can bring different perspectives into congressional debate. To hear the voices born of women s diverse lives, the U.S. needs many more than 63 women in Congress. Rep. Lynn Woolsey from California brought her experience of the sudden turns in some women s lives. When she and her husband divorced, she was left with the responsibility of raising her children alone. Woolsey s resume at the time was that of a homemaker it did not command much of a salary in the job market.