I think it is time that men started acting like men by supporting women.

I have a mom who decided to sacrifice a career and instead, spend her time watching my siblings and I play sports (through all my strikeouts in baseball) in addition to patiently helping me through my homework, all while raising us. Quite frankly, I wouldn’t be nearly as functional today if my mother didn’t spend the time she did teaching me right from wrong and helping me get through my toughest times and being there for me when I needed it most. Unfortunately, however, it seems as though our society forgets that women often don’t enjoy the same opportunities as men.    As someone who’s interested in politics, I have noticed a common trend: lack of women involved. I found that overall there are only 79 women in the House of Representatives and 20 in the Senate. That means that roughly 18 percent of all U.S representatives are women and 20 percent of senators are women. That is shocking considering around 50 percent of the population of the U.S. is women.

We pride ourselves as a nation that gives equal opportunities for everyone yet we have never elected a woman president or in the current Congress has any woman held any major political role. Sure Nancy Pelosi was Speaker of the House in the past and Hillary Clinton was Secretary of State, but it shouldn’t be an anomaly a woman held those roles, it should be normal.

That is why I am also writing today to support the “Elect Her” program coming up on Nov. 15. I think that “Elect Her” can empower women to run for office and help make Congress more representative of the demographics of the U.S. I also urge fellow male students to show up to “Elect Her” to show that this isn’t just a problem for women — it is a problem for everyone. Students should think long and hard about the role a woman might’ve played in their life and consider showing up to “Elect Her,” maybe not for themselves, but for that woman in their lives. I know I will be there. It is the least I can do to repay the sacrifices my mom for the long hours spent driving me to all my sports activities and being there for me when I need it the most.

Charlie Mastoloni
Political Science major
Class of 2017