Ladies: A couple questions for you.
How much do you give to charity every year – a certain percentage of your income? Depends on the cause?
Now, how much do you give to candidates every year? How about just women candidates?
A pretty stark difference, eh? The recently updated Vote With Your Purse research from our sister organization, WCF Foundation shows that women contribute far less to political candidates than men. They give to causes and charity, but not politically:
Despite casting nearly eight million more votes than men, women’s contributions accounted for only 31% of total donations to candidates, PACs and party committees in the 2008 cycle.
And when we do give politically, we give significantly less to women candidates than men. What gives?
In 2008, women gave $381 million more in political contributions than in 2006, however, only 35% of these contributions were to women candidates.
If you’re asking: So what’s the big deal? Who cares how much women give to candidates and who they give to? Here’s your answer:
In 2008, if women had increased their giving by just 22%, this would have represented an additional $40 million for congressional candidates of both genders or $13.8 million for women candidates specifically.
Women give to causes they believe in, but don’t tend to connect those issues to the candidates they vote for. However, sometimes helping to elect a candidate who supports your issue (i.e., reproductive justice) can be the best way to make progress.
We all know the unfortunate truth about politics in this country: No money = no winning. As Sam Bennett said:
“The effect is clear: women candidates are being outraised and outspent. Money in politics is perpetuating the gender divide in public office.”
In order to achieve parity for women in public office and advance the issues of importance to us and the nation, we must open up our wallets and vote with our purses.
Read the Vote With Your Purse 2009 update release here or download the full report.
