On Writing WOMEN IN POLITICS, BREAKING DOWN THE BARRIERS TO ACHIEVE TRUE REPRESENTATION

We’ve come a long way since the early 1970s when just a handful of women held political leadership positions. The November 2022 election cycle was a critical turning point for women in politics.  First, we made history with a record number of women winning and now serving in Congress, state legislatures, and executive positions. Second, many of these women now hold key leadership positions, including eighteen women who hold the top leadership position in their chamber, such as Senate President or Speaker of the House. Today, 49 percent of lieutenant governors in the United States are women. 

While we’ve gotten closer to gender parity, we are not there yet. There is still a lack of racial and ethnic diversity among women officeholders across all positions. Until recently, no Black woman was serving in the United States Senate since Kamala Harris’s departure. In its Global Gender Gap Report of 2022, the World Economic Forum study found that it will take 143 years to reach full gender parity at the current pace.

Significant cultural shifts like women’s societal roles require policy and behavioral change. Despite our efforts to tear them down, cultural barriers keep women from entering public office. These cultural barriers are the qualification gap, the ambition gap, and likability double standards.  

As an Asian American immigrant and former California State Assemblymember, I’ve learned many valuable lessons about women in leadership. My book, Women in Politics, Breaking Down the Barriers to Achieve True Representation, is dedicated to sharing my political experiences and journey toward leadership. It will showcase the work of women leaders in government, the lessons we can learn from their progress, and the barriers they have overcome to make a difference. Having women in leadership positions in government is essential for our democracy. For our families. And for our country. I hope this book will serve as a resource and inspiration to other women who want to change the world.

I’m passionate about social justice and women’s issues. As a girl growing up in Korea, an Asian American immigrant, a survivor of suicide, having lost my older sister to mental illness, a women’s health advocate, and an elected official, each part of my life has provided its own set of challenges, lessons, and successes. But what led me to a lifetime of public service and healthcare advocacy is that I lost my older sister to suicide when she was 17. 

One of the goals of writing this book is to inspire other women to write their own paths and to see that we do not have to be controlled by our backgrounds, ethnicities, or family histories. As a girl growing up in Korea, we were raised to be good girls, which means to be respectful and silent. So we were devastated when my older sister died by suicide at 17. I wasn’t aware she was struggling with depression. But those types of things were not discussed in our family. Soon, I began to understand that my sister couldn’t seek help because we were taught to keep our personal problems to ourselves. Culturally, women are not encouraged to be strong and assertive. So, the behaviors often required to run for public office do not come naturally to me. In my book, Women In Politics, I share these experiences and how many women have overcome significant cultural barriers and found sources of inspiration and support on their journeys to elected office.  

Women experience many barriers to winning public office. But when they win, they use their personal experiences to shape the public policy issues they choose to work on. Studies have shown that women politicians view themselves as a “voice for the voiceless,” representing children’s issues and the underserved communities whose interests may have been overlooked.  

For me, it was about advocating for increased mental health services and treatment. I also learned that significant achievements in healthcare access, education opportunities, and gender equality are often possible because of more women serving in government. So, if more women in politics benefit all of us, we need to understand the barriers preventing women from participating in politics.   

My book journey began with my desire to provide women with a platform for speaking their minds and advancing some of today’s most vital initiatives. In my book, Women in Politics, I explore the strides women have made in government and highlight the ongoing struggle for gender-political parity. 

This book is unique because it elevates the conversation around women’s voice in politics through interviews of women in politics, their journeys, and leadership stories– what motivated them to run for office, and what lessons we can learn from their progress and the barriers they’ve overcome to make a difference in the lives of others. And these barriers are powerful, but women must keep going over, around, and through these barriers, one after the other. 

The interviews are combined with research on the presence of women in our political landscape, as well as reflections on my own experiences. The picture that emerges from this book is how far we have come with women in representation but also how far we have to go. For our democracy to reflect the diversity of its citizens, the active involvement of women in the political sphere is not just a hopeful aspiration. It is an essential cornerstone of a truly representative democracy. Writing this book is my next step in igniting change and giving a voice to powerful ideas. 

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About the author:

Mary Chung Hayashi is an award-winning author, national healthcare leader, and former California State Assemblymember. With a distinguished career in public service, Mary has spearheaded substantial reforms in mental health services, championed gender equality, and forged powerful, unprecedented partnerships for social causes that previously had no financial or public backing. Recognized as “Legislator of the Year” by the American Red Cross and the California Medical Association, Mary has also been featured on Redbook’s “Mothers and Shakers” list and Ladies’ Home Journal’s “Women to Watch.” As Principal of Public Policy & Advocacy Solutions, she has successfully advised business and policy leaders on some of today’s most complex public policy matters. Mary remains a steadfast proponent of social justice expansion and the rights of underrepresented communities.

Women in Politics: Breaking Down the Barriers to Achieve True Representation

“Women belong in all places where decisions are being made.”

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s words reflect a reality that has plagued the United States for centuries: We have work to do when it comes to gender-political parity.

Still, trailblazing women in government have laid the groundwork for other women to follow in their footsteps, one inspirational example at a time.

In Women in Politics, award-winning author and healthcare leader Mary Chung Hayashi offers a riveting exploration of the strides made by women in government. This essential, contemporary analysis bridges the gap between past and present, blending Mary’s personal journey as an Asian American immigrant and former California State Assemblymember with the inspiring stories of trailblazing women in political leadership.

Featuring interviews and insightful discussions, Mary brings to life the trials and triumphs of these women, showcasing their invaluable contributions to political landscapes and the transformative power of their perseverance. Her work sheds light on the ongoing struggles for gender-political parity and serves as a call to action: we must actively participate in shaping our democracy. Women in Politics is not just a book; it’s a tribute to women’s political journey and a compass guiding us all toward a future of inclusive leadership and a truly representative democracy.

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Tags: featured, women writers

Category: On Writing