FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 16, 2005
Contact: Gloria Gavris
617-244-2004

Swiston speaks at Harvard on Public Service Panel

All Things to All People: Public Service & Family

Harvard University hosted an all day conference on Saturday, Oct 15, 2005 featuring a panel of women in public service, Senator Cathy Cook (CT), Dr. Susan Raymond and local Newtonite, Greer Tan Swiston.

Women make up more than 50% of the American population yet in government, where the elected officials are supposed to represent the people, women make up less than 15% of both the U. S. House of Congress and US Senate. On average across all 50 states, women hold only 22.5% of State legislative seats and a whopping 25% of the Statewide Executive elective offices (down from a high of 27.6% back in 1999 and 2001). American society has made great strides over the past century, but there has been a concerning uniform slide in all areas of women's progress over the past 5 years.

Swiston talked about growing up in the wake of the Women's Rights movement. “I realize that I am from a different generation than my colleagues here on the panel”, Swiston says. Swiston, 40, was still in grade school when Senator Cook and Dr. Raymond were blazing their trails in public service.

“I believe I have benefited greatly from the women who have gone before me and have reaped the benefits of having resources and opportunities that weren't available ten or twenty years ago.” Swiston is a software engineer, a graduate of MIT and has worked in corporate America and advanced in her career while getting married and having kids. She is currently running for Alderman-at-Large in Newton.

“The Women's Movement was about giving women choice and about equality.” Swiston said. ”Before, women didn't have that opportunity at all. Today, thanks to all the women who fought for our rights, we have more opportunities, but there is still work to be done. I believe that it is everyone's responsibility to be as self-sufficient as they can be. There is nothing wrong with choosing to stay home, man or woman, if you can afford to do so without being a burden on society. With choice, there are trade offs. With choice comes responsibility.”