'Looking At The Person, Not The Gender'
DUNCAN — State Sen. Jessica Garvin wants people to understand that women elected to public leadership positions can be as effective as their male counterparts.
Garvin (R-Duncan) relayed that message in an e-mail to constituents last month as she wrote about Women’s Equality Day, which was celebrated Aug. 26.
When Garvin was on the campaign trail in 2020, she was asked questions such as, “Who will take care of your kids if you get elected?” And, “What kind of mother would do that to their children?” Many times, Garvin said, the questions were asked by Republican women 65 and older.
“Because Oklahoma is such a biblically focused state, I think we’re raised understanding that a woman is meant to be a helpmate to a man. Unfortunately, that oftentimes drives the narrative that a woman’s place is at home, cooking, cleaning, and raising children, and not out trying to change the world,” the lawmaker wrote.
During the 2021 legislative session, Garvin earned multiple committee assignments and introduced several bills which were later signed into law.
In a later interview, Garvin said, “I told them it was no different for the male counterparts to leave their home and come to the Capitol. It’s engrained in women as the nurturer and that we raise the children. That attitude (by constituents) shows in the way we look at women in politics and leadership in general.”
While older GOP women may have had trouble understanding Garvin’s decision to run for political office, her message resonated with younger women.
“There were so many young women who gave $5, $10 or in-kind contributions and were very supportive. I love going to career days at my daughter’s school. Most of the girls were saying they wanted to be a teacher, a nurse or a mom. When I asked my daughter what she wanted to be, she replied, ‘state senator.’ My 5-year-old thinks I’m the coolest person in the world because I work at the Capitol,” Garvin said.
Garvin’s 10-year-old son also views Kamala Harris as the vice president, not a female vice president, Garvin said.
“It shows that younger people don’t look at gender, but rather the person,” she said. “That’s the way it should be. I want boys and young men to be supportive of women who might seek public office.”
The U.S. Constitution’s 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote in 1920 after Tennessee ratified the proposal. Tennessee residents actually voted to ratify the amendment on Aug. 18, 1920, but the paperwork wasn’t signed until Aug. 26, 1920 by then-U.S. Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby.
In 1971, Congress approved a measure which declared Aug. 26 as Women’s Equality Day each year.
“The passage of the 19th Amendment has allowed women to make incredible advancements and huge impacts on public policy. Although I'm not a woman who wants to take over the world, I do believe that women bring a unique perspective to the table and more of us should run for office, so our government is equally represented by gender,” Garvin wrote.
Whether women seek a seat on the city council, school board or in the state legislature, the public needs “more great women leading in all aspects of government,” Garvin wrote. “If you’re being called to serve, I hope you’ll answer the call and trust in your ability to be a great wife, mom and leader.”