The Capitol is no longer a man’s world, at least according to the 2009 House Rules.
When Nancy Pelosi became the first female Speaker of the House in 2006, rumors abounded in the hallways of the Capitol that she would emasculate the male-dominated Congress, starting with the conversion of the House Chamber’s only nearby bathroom (a men’s room equipped with a shoeshine stand and a fireplace) into a ladies room.
Two years later, that men’s room is still a men’s room. Pelosi has chosen instead to take much more subtle steps to help transition the Capitol into a more equal place.
This year Pelosi took a pen to the House Rules, crossing out “his,” “he,” and “Chairman” and inserting gender-neutral substitutes.
For instance, “chair” is inserted in place of “chairman.” Another paragraph strikes the sentence, ‘‘President submits his budget’’ and inserts ‘‘submission of the budget by the President.’’
The same editing is used throughout the House rules, including all references pertaining to the speaker and the House Clerk, who is also a woman.
Even the word “chairmanship” has been struck.
A top Pelosi aide said neutralizing gender in the House rules “just makes sense with the number of women chairs of committees and subcommittees.”
Just two of the 22 committee chairs appointed by Pelosi this congress are women, though she named several more women to head various subcommittees.
