The Pittsburgh Press (November 26, 1946)
Ferguson: Women in politics
By Mrs. Walter Ferguson
How often we hear it said that women are a power in politics. Yet it is a curious fact that there are few in public office and not many are appointed to places of government authority.
Why? In a search for reasons only one is clear to me.
I think women are too sensitive.
The man who goes in for politics must be able to ignore public criticism.
Our politicians really get more of it than our criminals. We accuse them of every vice from laziness to grand larceny. By the time a person has held office for several terms he has learned to be deaf to insults, to remarks about his personal appearance and his moral conduct.
Never having been so concerned about his looks or reputation, a man takes this sort of thing as a mere political irritation. Women in general can’t do that yet. They are more anxious for compliments, more personal in their attitudes and less objective in their thinking. Hundreds who might be persuaded to run for office thus are held back.
What a pity Americans can’t outgrow such adolescent habits. During campaigns we behave like a bunch of naughty boys – figuratively speaking we make faces, stick out tongues and call each other names.
There should be more honor attached to holding office. Perhaps if women get the courage to enter campaigns, the fragments of chivalry still left in the country would stop much senseless slanderings.