Action Alert | Activate Your Group Chat for Social Change
Last month, national nonpartisan nonprofit, She Should Run released their first ever “Group Chat Issues” Report. Surfaced in the report were topics motivating women to get involved in politics while also providing ideas and actions to help close the gender gaps in elected office. To learn more, the Gender Avenger team chatted with Erica Teti-Zilinskas, the Director of Communications at She Should Run:
Why is it important to start centering specific issues in conversations around gender equality?
Our research showed that women are not motivated to consider elected leadership by gender equity alone. They are motivated to take action by the issues showing up in their everyday lives. As a nonpartisan nonprofit looking to drastically increase the number of women from all walks of life considering elected leadership, we need to connect the dots between the issues that disproportionately affect women and the role they can play in addressing these challenges in their communities.
You called the report “group chat issues” to bring attention to the support women need to be convinced to run for office. What role can we play in supporting the political goals of the women in our own group chats? We all have a role to play in building the ecosystem that will ultimately support more women in elected office.
For starters, you can help women identify the traits that you think make them a good leader - are they a good listener? Problem solver? Can they connect with anyone? Women don't run at the same rate as men because they aren't asked! We need to address the misconception that political leaders need to have a certain background or education to run for office. Our democracy only stands to benefit from the unique experiences women bring to leadership and we need to work together to get them to consider running for office.
Can you share a few actions that women can start with if they are considering running for office?
Talk about the issues that matter to you with your circle, whether that be in a group chat, around the kitchen table, or in real life! You can also:
1. Attend an upcoming event with She Should Run to dig in even further.
2. Support! Encourage the women in your life that are passionate about issues to consider running.
3. Access Resources. Once you or someone you know has started to think about running, join the She Should Run Community to access free resources including programs to help women on their journey of considering elected office.
4. Get Active. Take existing action and amplify it by attending a town hall meeting in your community to weigh in on the issues that matter to you.
5. Run!
Finally, our friends at She Should Run wanted to share this fun quiz you can take to kick start your civic journey: Which Fictional Character Would You Vote For? And if you’re just getting started on civic engagement, or need a refresher, check out the civic education resources on the All In Together website.
Take the quiz, text your group chat, and get started on growing your civic engagement together!