Miss Representation Page #5

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women have been doing it.

So we got to get them

in the tables of power.

Well, two things have to happen

when you talk about women

moving to the next rung

or minorities moving

to the next rung.

First, you have to have

the candidates.

You have to have people

who are in the pools

from which these positions are drawn.

But you also have to have

a kind of psychological breakthrough.

Can an American see a woman

or an African-American

in that position'?

Now, I think with women

we still have a bit to go.

Siebel Newsom:
I knew these obstacles

still existed for my generation,

but I wanted to find out

if things were any better

for young women

seeking leadership positions,

so I spent time with

an exceptional young woman

named Devanshi Patel,

who aspires to have a career

in public service.

Well, welcome to bill hearing.

Tonight is the bill hearing night

for the Central Silicon Valley YMCA

Youth & Government Delegation.

So, the first time I ran

for public office

was in fourth grade.

My parents worked with me.

We made all these fliers with

all these cure little slogans,

and we campaigned

all over the school.

And I was actually the runner-up

by a handful of votes.

I think everyone is born with

something that they have to do,

and for me, this was it.

Every time

that I could run for something,

I didn't run for anything less.

I didn't run for Vice

President or Treasurer.

I ran for President.

Ranna:
I asked her one day...

I think it was in fifth grade.

I said, "Devanshi,

you always want to be a leader,"

but do you know

what a leader is?"

She says, "it's very simple, Mama.

"They are just serving the people.

Leaders are just servants

to people."

Devanshi:
I loved

the Youth & Government program.

The best way I can give back is

by running for Youth Governor.

How would you solve

the California budget crisis?

Starting with Miss Patel.

I would out unnecessary spending.

When I was running for office,

there were a lot of...

if not outward shows of sexism,

little remarks here and there,

like, "Oh, she speaks well

for a woman."

"She's smart for a woman."

There were also a couple instances

with some of my friends

when they were going to speak

in front of a large audience

and the only thing people

could focus on was their body,

what they looked like,

what they were wearing.

I thought, you knovv,

"We're better than this."

She said, "Mama, it looks like

I'm another Hillary Clinton."

Guys will vote for guys,

and girls will vote for guys

but some of the time,

girls have a harder time getting

the girls to vote for girls

'cause I feel like girls are

kind of harder on other girls.

Siebel Newsom:

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