Number of Female Chiefs of Staff in Congressional Offices Remains Deficient
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 3, 2010
Washington, D.C. – In 2009, WCF reported that female Chiefs of Staff on the Hill had hit the glass ceiling: Three years of stagnant statistics showed no significant increase in the percentage of House Members with a female Chief of Staff. Less than one-third of House Members’ Chiefs of Staff were women.
This year, statistics reveal that the number of female Chiefs of Staff remains remarkably deficient:
- The percentage of House Members employing a woman Chief of Staff has stagnated over the last two years: Only 35 percent of Representatives have a female Chief of Staff.
- In the past four years, the percentage of male House Members with a female Chief of Staff has remained below one-third.
- The number of female Representatives with a woman Chief of Staff has increased throughout the last four years, but still lingers below 50 percent.
- Only one-quarter of Senators currently employ a female Chief of Staff.
- The percentage of male Senators employing a female Chief of Staff has actually decreased over the past four years, and is now estimated to be only 20 percent.
- Out of over 530 Chiefs of Staff in Congressional offices on the Hill, less than 180 are women.
WCF seeks to change our political landscape and achieve equality for women in public office—which includes positions of leadership in government such as Chief of Staff.
To urge the rise of women in the political realm as well as all professions, WCF will host an evening of empowerment on September 23, 2010 – Ladder to the Top: Shattering the Glass Ceiling.
This full evening of programming begins with a press conference at 3:30pm, announcing groundbreaking new research from Lake Research Partners about sexism against women in the media – as part of ‘NAME IT CHANGE IT,’ the collaborative campaign by WCF Foundation, Women’s Media Center, and Political Parity.
At 6:00pm, WCF kicks off its annual Hail to the Chiefs Reception, which shines the spotlight on the talented women Chiefs of Staff who support our leading members of Congress. This year’s program will be held at the National Museum of Women in the Arts.
After the Reception, WCF re-launches its Washington, D.C. Dinner Parties of Your Choice Gala. Guests will dine in one of three women-owned restaurants in our nation’s capital with women Chiefs of Staff, WCF-Endorsed Candidates, and members of Congress.
Ladder to the Top details:
September 23, 2010
National Museum of Women in the Arts
3:30pm: ‘NAME IT. CHANGE IT.’ press conference, announcing original research by Lake Research Partners on sexism against women in the media
6:00-7:30pm: Hail to the Chiefs Reception
Featuring women Chiefs of Staff and the D.C. premiere of WCF Foundation’s original Voices from the Ladder performance piece.
**Members of the press are encouraged to attend with complimentary admission**
7:30pm: Dinner Parties of Your Choice
Dine with WCF-Endorsed Candidates, Chiefs of Staff, and members of Congress in extraordinary women-owned restaurants around our nation’s capital.
Restaurants include: Restaurant Nora, I Ricchi, RIS
WCF, founded in 1974, is the only national, non-partisan, political organization supporting women at all levels of office, during the earliest stages of their public life, when that support is needed most.
Contact: Erin L. Cutraro, Vice President & Political Director, 314-827-6149