By Paula Pyzik Scott
In early April, the second annual GIRLS summit (Girls Increasing Representation Leadership) at Ohio Northern University brought middle school girls from Ada, Kenton and Upper Scioto Valley schools to meet and interact with local women in elected office as well as with women studying political science.
The guests were greeted by young women from the ONU Institute for Civics and Public Policy and Leaders’ Council. Emcee Alison Ringhiser, a sophomore Political Science Major, opened the event by encouraging the participants to “increase representation of women in any and all sectors.”
The event was created in response to research done by Dr. Theresa Schroeder Hageman, Adjunct Instructor of Political Science, on why the United States has a greater gender gap in elected office than other countries.
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Hageman showed the students that 29% of Representatives in the U.S. House and 25% of U.S. Senators are women, while in countries such as Costa Rica and Sweden women make up almost 50% of elected official in their legislatures.
According to Hageman, U.S. women are less likely to consider themselves qualified to run for office and are less likely to be encouraged to run for office. This social bias begins early in life and results in girls having less knowledge about politics than boys. However, at age 13 boys and girls show equal political ambition, which sparked interest in creating the GIRLS summit for students of about that age.
Two local women talked with Hageman about why they have sought and been elected to local political offices. Hageman presented questions to Village of Ada council member and ONU Director of Pharmacy Student Affairs Sheila Coressel, who is a candidate for the 83rd Ohio House District seat, and Mayor of Kenton Lynn Jones Webb, who worked for Honda in model planning and development for 30 years prior to being elected mayor.
The first question posed was “what advice do you have for middle school girls?” Webb explained that she was a problem solver at a young age and said that it is most important who you chose to be surrounded by. “Keep your focus and dream big,” she said.
Coressel remembered running for student government treasurer and not being elected. But she found other organizations to participate in. “If things are struggles right now, it’s gonna get better," she added.
First time they became interested in running for office? Webb said she had no plans to run for mayor and that when someone approached her with the idea, her first answer was “no.” But the idea, once planted, grew within her and eventually became a white-hot passion for her community. She said that she is “living her best life” now, as a public servant.
Volunteering with community organizations and her local political party got the ball rolling for Coressel. In 2019 she aspired to become a voice for a younger generation at Ada Council. She won her seat by just four votes, which she says is a reminder that every vote does count.
Are there advantages to being a woman in politics? Webb said, “We’re compassionate, we’re understanding, we’re caring and it draws people in.” Coressel followed, “People need to feel heard.” If community members are voicing frustrations, it’s important to ask questions and find out where that frustration is coming from, she emphasized.
Both women welcomed the students to contact them in the future. “Come hang with me,” said Webb, inviting the girls to see her on the job.
A second part of the summit was a group problem solving activities and presentations.
More information on the ONU Institute for Civics and Public Policy is HERE.
