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Independent Women's Forum Executive Director Sabrina Schaeffer discusses whether the increase in women in the House will improve legislation.
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-- -- -- we wanna get back to that debate that we've been having on this program is in the national media to.
About what -- having twenty women that's a record number in the senate is gonna make -- senate backs up.
Perhaps bringing in more compromise he is a quote from the Washington Post article which started this whole debate is quote.
Some all wondering whether the record breaking number of women will mean less gridlock not more in the -- women -- more collaborative.
And collegial leaders studies have found.
Joining us now Sabrina -- chief executive director of the independent women's forum.
So they're welcome to the program.
I take -- you agree with this that women bring collegiality and civility to the political debate and -- that both think -- twenty.
Is a good number.
-- -- could change the senate -- Well not exactly I mean I realize at sixteen of the twenty women and the senate now are Democrats.
So the reality is this may actually leave the lead to more consensus.
Less compromising more partisanship -- and -- what they do agree with is that the genders or different that men and women have different talents different in -- I'm and that they bring different things in the table there have been studies that show for instance that women come to meetings more prepared and that raises the -- and leads and then having more prepared that.
Women have more of discussion and meetings rather then.
PowerPoint presentations that's -- -- men tend toward.
I'm so I think there is on you know sort of big picture -- women may bring something different to the table but when we look at the specifics of who these women aren't Hispanic.
We see that there overwhelmingly democratic I don't think that we're going to see true tremendous shift in this political body.
So you accept -- gender difference that you -- -- that is indeed a gender difference that women are more collegial women almost civil -- -- -- -- -- compromise you sign -- you definitely agree with that if you do I may I introduce you to Margaret -- I silly don't think that women across the border all the same nor do I think that we all women voters.
What women who care about so called the women's issues and I think that that's where this this conversation can really -- -- the reality is.
I would rather have a man -- purple monster -- that -- have they had.
You know the values -- economic liberty and limited government and personal responsibility if that -- the policy prescriptions and one thing to think about -- and I think she doesn't -- when he ten during the year the Republican women.
I remember hearing this conversation DO about it that's -- a lot of women today don't yeah.
You're on the conservative side of the -- by the sound of its -- on that's yeah.
Didn't know gas.
I thought you are -- liberal.
Sorry no no no I'm sorry for the -- -- so -- -- -- that does to women sitting right here on the company I want to last them very similar question.
Do you think that they're on gender differences and that women are indeed more collegial collaborative and civil.
I think if we're to make a sweeping generalization that is probably true I think generally -- women have different styles in approaching conflict -- it approaching negotiation.
That doesn't mean all women want -- so that we don't include Margaret Thatcher in that.
Actually women who rise to the top levels of leadership actually tend to have more male styles of approaching -- conflict.
Hold on -- -- -- if we're out of time at home -- second I'm you know I'm mid sixties and I've been -- throughout my adult life that you would not allowed to -- certain characteristics.
To -- groups of people.
You're not allowed to it would be sexist.
To say that women -- more civil than men.
-- can be chilled more collaborative that is a sexist statement by today's standards is it not.
-- It's not in fact and leap in writing and this little little bit of a digression that we've been writing a lot about this controversy over the easy bake up and girls and boys are different women and men are different that doesn't mean that we're not -- well they -- that Sabrina.
Yet holed up.
-- controversy.
About the easy bake -- retail a fed that marketed its -- -- strictly to women -- our two girls and not to boys and there's been.
You know sort of a protest -- -- and now the easy bake -- is coming out with a gender neutral easy bake oven so was it sexist to marketed to girls.
Absolutely not look you can get a boy and dog doesn't mean he's going to claim it that's the reality is.
The genders are different that doesn't mean that we're not equal but we do have different strengths and -- that were able to bring to the table the more important question with -- -- it.
Is what -- -- political values what are the policy prescriptions that women like senator Feinstein are or Claire McCaskill are gonna bring to the table and I have a feeling that I'm not gonna agreement.
I do you know I think we're in agreement via essentially they may be able women may be more collegial collaborative -- civil.
-- and they compromise but it doesn't it to say we're gonna end up with good policy dust that's the point is not -- -- -- -- last -- to get a dog who's been out of this -- so.
Women Sino tend to dig their high heels in pretty deep when they when they care about an issue -- talk about Sarah Palin Michelle Bachmann these are women who when they care about something -- -- -- I cannot wait a minute selling and that -- -- -- to say -- women digging in their high heels.
I'm out of.
Calling for that I've been calling for the conservative women to do exactly that today in the high heels and maybe some of the -- -- that's usually -- -- but can't -- liberal academia has has sending you can't say that I can't -- you can't gender stereotype but I can't and that's one of the fundamental problems of society -- can -- say women digging in their high -- -- a couple of I think so I thought that I'm digging in my high platforms so nice.
-- -- -- The debate is Sabrina thank you so much for joining as we do appreciate it -- is at some good some things.
