Women voters matter in midterms: Your Say

Letter to the editor:

Commentary writer Genevieve Wood's piece, "There is more gender equality than you think: Column" glossed over many ways gender inequality persists, and why candidates are right to focus on women.

We're proud that women are pursuing higher education in record numbers, but simple numbers don't tell the whole story. Women are more likely to face sexual assault on campus; experience systemic bias when trying to access the higher-paying science, technology, engineering and math fields; and have a harder time repaying student loans thanks to the pay gap.

Wood wrote that saying the pay gap is real doesn't make it so. True enough; that's why we rely on research. American Association of University Women did an apples-to-apples comparison one year out of college and found that a gap of almost 7% already exists between the wages of women and men with the same major and occupation.

It's 2014, and we're still arguing about contraception, also known as preventive health care. The Supreme Court's Hobby Lobby decision this year not only limited access to that preventive care but also singled out women for discrimination.

Candidates who are talking about these issues are, indeed, recognizing our "girl power." When women vote, we change the outcome of elections.

Linda D. Hallman, CEO/executive director, American Association of University Women; Washington, D.C.

Comments from Facebook are edited for clarity and grammar:

Female voters played a key role in helping President Obama twice win the White House, and they factor into competitive Senate races in states such as Iowa, Kentucky and Georgia, which could decide which party holds power in that chamber.

Women are intelligent. I doubt seriously that, given the Democrats' track record and Hillary Clinton's flip-flop political stances, they would continue to support a failing party's representatives.

— Robert Phallan

Why do some people see a focus on how the minimum wage affects women as divisive? Do they not see women as an important constituency?

Is recognizing wage inequality divisive, or is ignoring it divisive?

— Tom Kane

President Obama's campaigns have been exemplified by class warfare, race baiting and gender politics in order to establish victimization and divide us by demographics. I find it interesting that the president and his administration had such a hard time declaring we're at war with the Islamic State, but they have no problem condemning Republicans with a "war on women."

— Douglas Miller

Letter to the editor:

After calling people in support of a senatorial candidate recently, I was struck that far too many people are disengaged from the political process, even as we approach a crucial midterm election with control of the U.S. Senate at stake.

It is clear that many folks are disillusioned with the process, a process dominated by such factors as big money, negative advertising and political schism. When the win-at-any-cost mentality is projected by politicians, this tends to turn people off.

I would like to see a rebirth of moderation and civility in politics. The stakes are too high for us to allow extremism to dictate national policy.

Patrick Frank; Arden, N.C.