Marianne Hill: State, Local Elected Office Tough Road for Women in Mississippi

MARIANNE HILL

Hill featured on Episode 7 of ‘Better Mississippi Report Podcast

From the Better Mississippi Report:

JACKSON (Monday, Aug. 23, 2010) – Even though women have fared well in elected office in Mississippi, the chairwoman of the Mississippi Commission on the Status of Women says they still have a difficult time finding success in a field dominated by men.

Marianne Hill, who chairs the 13-member appointed commission, said women have a more difficult time raising funds to run for office and attracting the support they need. In addition, she said, Mississippi lacks “the kind of network out there to help (women) take the first few steps.”

“It’s true we have increased the percentage of women that are serving in the Legislature,” Hill said. “But we are still way below the national average, which is something like 24 percent nationally versus 14 percent in Mississippi. We have to get the word out, we have to organize – that’s the key.”

Hill talked about women in political office, professional opportunities for women and inequities in pay during a wide-ranging interview featured in Episode 7 of the “Better Mississippi Report Podcast.” The podcast was released today, Monday, Aug. 23.

You can listen to the podcast with a built-in media player found in the column on the right of this Web site page. You also can click here to download a copy of the podcast for listening on your computer or personal listening device.

The Mississippi Commission on the Status of Women is composed of 13 women appointed to four-year terms by the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and state House speaker. The Mississippi Legislature created the commission in 2001.

The commission’s vision is simple: the improvement of the overall quality of life of women – specifically in the areas of education, health, economics, political participation and race relations. The commission’s mission is to assess and influence policies and practices that affect women.

Hill said Mississippi has a lot of work to accomplish. For starters, she said, people have to change their “attitude toward women in the state.”

“Even if a woman is qualified, it’s not that likely that she’s going to have somebody who’s trying to support her, help her move up in the company or move up in the office,” Hill said. “That’s one of the reasons I believe why Mississippi is not doing as well as some other states.”


The Better Mississippi Group, an independent, non-partisan business based in Jackson, is dedicated to improving the state of Mississippi by encouraging good public policy; supporting issues vital to improving the state’s quality of life; and encouraging effective, forward-thinking elected leadership.