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State Rep. Gelser encourages women to run for office
Corvallis, Philomath state representative since 2005 advocates for disabled children
Katie Wolf
Issue date: 11/24/08 Section: News
State Rep. Sara Gelser gave a public lecture on Friday afternoon titled "Women, Power and Politics" at the OSU Women's Center.
Gelser has served as state representative of Corvallis and Philomath since 2005. Much of her work has been devoted to helping women and children dealing with domestic violence, rape and child abuse. She has also focused much of her attention on helping children with disabilities.
This issue holds significant personal value because her son, Sam, was born with a developmental disability. Gelser recalls seeing many doors close to him and others like him because of their disabilities. This force in her life encouraged Gelser to go to work advocating for people with disabilities and their families.
In 2001, Gelser ran for the Corvallis School Board in hopes of breaking down the barriers to educational success that children face. Four years later, Gelser ran for state representative.
In her lecture, Gelser spoke about the difficulties that women face in running for political office.
"Men often step up and decide to run themselves," Gelser said, "but women wait to be asked or encouraged by someone else."
According to Gelser, particularly because of their duties as mothers, women wait to become involved within the political sphere.
"Since women wait to run for local office, they aren't in the pipeline early enough to run for the Oval Office," Gelser said.
Only 16 percent of the U.S. Congress is made up of women, while 51 percent of the population of the country is women. Gelser explained that in a representative system, everyone brings in different perspectives and priorities.
As long as there is such an imbalance between men and women in political power, the main concerns of women will not always be addressed.
"Her talk really inspired some women here to become politically active," said Samantha Reining, a senior in history.
Gelser used her own story as an example to show that it is possible for women to have a family and still be politically successful.
She did, however, face criticism for her choices. She recalled men who questioned her commitment to her children when she decided to run for office.
"They would say I wasn't 'mothering' my kids completely," Gelser said.
Despite the opposition she has faced, Gelser has remained a driving force in the Oregon legislature.
"Her talk helps us realize that our representatives are here, they care about us and want to know what we want," said Alia Beyer, a junior in chemistry.
"Sara talked about what we wanted to talk about. She wasn't here to preach to us."
Katie Wolf, staff writer
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
Gelser has served as state representative of Corvallis and Philomath since 2005. Much of her work has been devoted to helping women and children dealing with domestic violence, rape and child abuse. She has also focused much of her attention on helping children with disabilities.
This issue holds significant personal value because her son, Sam, was born with a developmental disability. Gelser recalls seeing many doors close to him and others like him because of their disabilities. This force in her life encouraged Gelser to go to work advocating for people with disabilities and their families.
In 2001, Gelser ran for the Corvallis School Board in hopes of breaking down the barriers to educational success that children face. Four years later, Gelser ran for state representative.
In her lecture, Gelser spoke about the difficulties that women face in running for political office.
"Men often step up and decide to run themselves," Gelser said, "but women wait to be asked or encouraged by someone else."
According to Gelser, particularly because of their duties as mothers, women wait to become involved within the political sphere.
"Since women wait to run for local office, they aren't in the pipeline early enough to run for the Oval Office," Gelser said.
Only 16 percent of the U.S. Congress is made up of women, while 51 percent of the population of the country is women. Gelser explained that in a representative system, everyone brings in different perspectives and priorities.
As long as there is such an imbalance between men and women in political power, the main concerns of women will not always be addressed.
"Her talk really inspired some women here to become politically active," said Samantha Reining, a senior in history.
Gelser used her own story as an example to show that it is possible for women to have a family and still be politically successful.
She did, however, face criticism for her choices. She recalled men who questioned her commitment to her children when she decided to run for office.
"They would say I wasn't 'mothering' my kids completely," Gelser said.
Despite the opposition she has faced, Gelser has remained a driving force in the Oregon legislature.
"Her talk helps us realize that our representatives are here, they care about us and want to know what we want," said Alia Beyer, a junior in chemistry.
"Sara talked about what we wanted to talk about. She wasn't here to preach to us."
Katie Wolf, staff writer
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
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