Why Women Need To Share Their Voices In Op-Ed Columns
Men write 75% of op-ed columns. For some reason, women have not broken through this journalistic glass ceiling. Op-eds require a strong writing voice. That may scare or turn some women off. It also requires a tough skin. Op-ed writers can get hammered by readers in the comment sections. Negative comments tend to be more forthcoming than positive ones.
I’ve learned to let these comments fuel my passion to write even more wild and disobedient op-eds.
Honestly, it’s my favorite type of writing. I get to unleash my voice. I get to be bold. I get to be sassy. I get to use my Nancy Drew investigative skills. I get to pull disparate thoughts together into something new. To me, it’s a labor of creative love.
On February 25, 2012, I’m taking a seminar in Boston through the Op-Ed Project. This group has been going around the country trying to encourage women to share their voices in op-ed columns. I want to get my voice into the biggest, loudest, baddest op-ed venues I can. And soon, I’m going to offer an op-ed writing class on-line and in-person.
The world needs women to share their voices. It may be the missing link to a world that lessens suffering and promotes beauty.
Here’s my latest piece in The MetroWest Daily News: Keystone PipeLine: A Bad Idea. You’ll see what I mean about unpleasant comments. Some of them were left by oil-industry folks. It’s their job to discredit anyone who disagrees with the powerful. It’s a compliment that they found my op-ed and ripped it to shreds!
For those of you interested in how I got my start in op-ed writing. I began writing letters to the editor, then free guest columns and now paid columns. I tend to write complex pieces that require quite a bit of research and the connecting of dots not previously connected.
Do any of you men or women write op-ed pieces or want to? How do you feel about unleashing your strongest voice to the public?
Thanks! G.
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I love your Keystone XL piece. The tone of the hate mail suggests, to me, a coordinated response by the industry. We see it all the time up here to, and the same kind of language shows up on eco-blogs and open eco-discussion groups all over the web.
As for a woman’s voice, I wish that women were dominating the op-ed pages, business start-ups, politics. I don’t know if it would be a panacea, but it would be a helluva good start.
Hi Michael,
I think you’re onto something. The vitriolic responses do point to a coordinated effort to squelch folks who question the pipeline. The delay will give time for the alleged facts to be vetted. If it’s so good for the US and Canada, then they won’t have anything to worry about. Yet, they do seem worried. I’d love to increase their worry.
The Op-Ed Project is a good effort to get women’s voices into the main stream. I see women suffering terribly in some parts of the world — being beaten up, stoned, forced to cover their bodies form head to toe, silenced and it’s all part of the same campaign to muffle women’s voices.
Many thanks for the comment! G.
I agree with you. Women need to get their voices and ideas heard. I guess there are a lot of gals willing to do that, but they aren’t given the chance.
Hi Cindy,
It’s new territory for women writers to explore. Thanks for joining us, G.
This inspires me to actually think about writing an op-ed piece. It hasn’t occurred to me, no doubt because the op-ed page of my newspaper is so male dominated. Very interesting. I’m on a campaign to get the book review section of our paper more gender balanced also. Week after week, it is dominated by men (more than dominated, there are rarely reviews of books by women) and it makes me furious.
Charlotte,
Opinion pieces are really fun to write once you get the hang of it. You mention furious. A great starting point for an op-ed piece.
Your campaign to get more female book reviews sounds like a terrific idea. Try and write one. Our local daily pays for anything well written.
Good to see you back here! G.
This is a very inspiring piece. I know that this is not a case of feminism or girl power; instead, it is a case of perspective. We women look at things differently compared to guys so we should also get our views read in op-ed pieces.
Hi Karyn,
Yes, we could use a different kind of perspective! Thank you … G.
Your op-ed contains some shocking information that I, for one, was completely unaware of when I read about the Keystone Project. I was just against it on principle, but now I learn that it’s so advanced, there’s no stopping it. And exporting oil to China? Wow! No wonder you got reactions.
The truth of what you wrote was borne out by the indignant responses protesting your stance and refuting your facts. When that happens, you know you hit a nerve. Isn’t that what happens with a good op-ed piece?
Should women write op-ed? Sure they should, the same as women should have a say about all important matters. Women have important opinions, but for some reason in this country, in certain areas, the “old boys’ club” still prevails. So, Giulietta, keep on plugging away and make a few holes in their dyke.
Hi Penelope,
The project can be stopped. It is of no benefit to anyone but the big companies involved. Few jobs, little oil. You are not along, very few citizens know anything about it, anything beyond the hype that is.
I hope the Op-ed Project gets more women to let their voices loose to the world!
Thanks for stopping in so often. Most appreciated. G.
Good for you! I’m actively working on climate and joined some Keystone rallies back when the conversation was to get Obama to block it, so thank you for using your voice on this issue. There is serious backlash against the Pres. for denying the permit last month, even if he used wimpy verbiage that still included fossil fuel on his agenda.
Your point is so important, and at the heart of it, women don’t write opeds as frequently as the men for the same reason that they don’t run for office as frequently as the men: because much of the household work still primarily falls on the women even as they are employed full-time. All of this needs to change if we are to have equal space at the table.
Hi Belinda,
Terrific that you worked to block Keystone. Otherwise, it would be a done deal by now.
Most of the people I hang with don’t know anything about the pipeline and they are usually well-informed folks. I’m trying to figure that out.
Good point about women handling most of the housework. I saw my mother spend her life cleaning the house and decided I wasn’t going to do that. I clean when folks come over. The rest of the time I live with it. Gives me lots of time to write op-eds …
Thank you for leaving a comment! G.