The Alliance For Women

Political ladder proving steep for women in S.C.

Even though the S.C. Senate has never had more than a sprinkling of women, there's a real prospect that next year's 46-member, upper chamber will - for the first time in decades - once again be an all-male body. That speculation has renewed questions about the reasons for this state's bottom-level ranking in terms of women in political office.

A story in last week's State newspaper described this as a "down year" for women aspiring to the upper chamber, noting that one of the two incumbents, newcomer Catherine Ceips of Beaufort, lost in the primary and veteran Linda Short of Chester didn't seek re-election.

That still leaves three women on the November ballot. But two are challenging veteran lawmakers in Lexington and Sumter counties who have served 32 and 26 years respectively. The other race is for a York County seat vacated by a Republican. The woman on that ballot is a Democrat.

Conversely, the House's male-female ratio is expected to remain about the same: 112 males and 12 females. But those are the kind of figures that have put this state at the bottom of the statistical ladder when it comes to elected women office-holders.

No question there have been gains, but they have been sporadic. Actually, according to the Senate clerk's office, the first woman served there from 1929-32. But women didn't start being elected on a more regular basis until the mid-1960s. The first woman took her seat in the House in 1945.

Attorney Ruth Williams Cupp of Charleston was among those women who found themselves a minority of one in the House as late as 1962. While Cupp says there was no lack of camaraderie with her male counterparts, there also were adjustments to be made.

For example, the only women's restroom was in a far corner of the Statehouse's ground floor. The most powerful woman in the House at the time was the formidable, long-time clerk of the House, Inez Watson, who did have a more convenient private facility off the House chamber. Cupp recalls accepting the invitation to use the clerk's restroom only to be startled by the booming voice of a male colleague. The clerk, she discovered, had a sound system installed to avoid missing a minute of the action on the floor. Ultimately it was conceded that women likely were permanent House and Senate fixtures and they were given their own restrooms.

Even though the number of women who have vied for office has remained relatively small, it isn't as though they aren't interested in government. While Alliance for Women statistics show high registration and even greater participation at the polls, why don't more agree to put themselves on the legislative ballot?

Many of the explanations mirror those heard from men: They can't afford or don't have the latitude to leave their businesses for half a year; or, the $22,500-plus pay (including a district monthly check and a chance at state insurance and retirement) doesn't compensate for the amount of work involved. There's also the incumbency hurdle.

But it's also noted that while women, particularly those with children, provide back-home support for their spouses who serve, that same level of support generally isn't available to women. There's also the perception that women are subjected to a different type of media scrutiny than men, along with a lack of experience in money raising and networking.

A number of groups are dedicated to changing that, from the Charleston's Center for Women to the Alliance for Women at Columbia College and the Governor's Commission on Women. Jennet Robinson Alterman, executive director of the Center for Women, is optimistic:

"In the years since I have been at the Center (2001) I have seen an increasing interest from women across the state in setting up Charleston Center for Women-type professional and personal development programs. This tells me that more and more women want to become proactive, which in turn will provide networking opportunities. Unlike men, we haven't had the lifelong networks provided by civic and professional organizations until fairly recently. Our Center offers women in the Lowcountry numerous events at which they can meet each other and create successful partnerships. We are working on the other factors by working toward pay equity, promoting more flexibility in the workplace and offering training programs in running for office."

There's also no question women have made gains in this state. Jean Toal, a former leader in the House, is now chief justice of the S.C. Supreme Court. Women also have won statewide office, from lieutenant governor to two female superintendents of education.

Still, even in many local offices that don't require overnight stays from home there is a noticeable vacuum. While women have served as mayors in a number of our local communities, Charleston County Council, for example, only has one woman among its nine members.

Actually, there's no solid explanation for why the number of elected women in this state is last among their counterparts around the country who face similar hurdles. One difference may be that their numbers were so small before so many incumbents became so entrenched in their "safe" district seats. Only healthy competition from both men and women will change that.

The Post and Courier
By Barbara S. Williams
Editor Emeritus
Barbara S. Williams, editor emeritus of The Post and Courier, may be reached at Bwilliams@postandcourier.com.