Who's in the Pipeline?

"There aren't enough women in the pipeline."

That's often the explanation for why more women aren't in higher office in this country. Fewer women in legislatures means fewer women perceived as qualified to run for Congress, serve in the Cabinet, or run for President.

Where does that pipeline start? One place is way back in the page programs of the state legislatures.


This photo, from today's Star Tribune, shows some of the new pages for this year's Minnesota legislative session. They're being oriented by a woman, and there is one woman and one man working in the background. But the pages themselves appear to be two white girls, one Asian-American boy, and eight white boys.

Check the pipeline entry point. It may be clogged.