Mary Hayashi, a prominent figure in the California State Assembly, has consistently championed women's rights and emphasized the importance of their involvement in politics. Going beyond her legislative responsibilities, she has expanded her influential footprint by authoring a compelling book titled "Women in Politics: Breaking Down Barriers for Genuine Representation." This empowering and eye-opening book is a must-read. To learn more about her latest book read on.

Where are you based?
I live in the SF Bay Area with my husband, Dennis Hayashi.

What inspired you to pursue a position in the California State Assembly?
I lost my older sister to suicide when she was 17, which led me to a lifetime of public service and mental health advocacy. In 2001, I moved from the San Francisco Bay Area to Sacramento to be with my future husband, and I began looking for new employment. I wanted to keep doing my part in making changes that would improve the lives of others, and my chance came when I met Darrell Steinberg, who is currently serving as the Mayor of Sacramento.

As a California assemblymember at the time, he was a vocal advocate for increasing the availability of mental health services. During his first term in the state assembly, he authored AB34, which authorized pilot projects to provide integrated services to the homeless population in three counties. This pilot program evaluation showed success in reducing hospitalization and incarceration. Then, in 2004, he teamed up with Rusty Selix, a longtime mental health leader and lobbyist, to write Proposition 63. The groundbreaking Mental Health Services Act would impose a 1 percent tax on incomes of $1,000,000 to fund mental health programs; a portion of that money would be dedicated to prevention and early intervention programs focused on detecting and treating mental illness before it becomes debilitating. Given my interest in mental health, I asked Darrell if I could help and was assigned as the Alameda County Coordinator for the Proposition 63 campaign.

In November 2004, 54 percent of California voters approved this measure on a statewide ballot. Through its passage, the proposition created the Mental Health Services Act, providing unprecedented funding for county mental health services to expand and improve care for children and adults in need. Shortly after the passage of Proposition 63, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed me to serve as a Commissioner to the California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, which monitored and guided the state’s implementation of Proposition 63. Since 2005, Proposition 63 has generated twenty-nine billion dollars for mental health programs. The Proposition 63 experience opened my eyes to new ways I could make an impact. Darrell used his platform as a legislator to do much more than author legislation and work on the state budget; he used his position to advance causes he deeply cared about. After seeing firsthand what Darrell was able to achieve, I was inspired to move from an advocate influencing legislators to a legislator with the power to implement change. Shortly after the passage of Proposition 63, I decided to run for the California State Assembly, and on December 4, 2006, I took office as State Assemblymember for California’s eighteenth district.

Congratulations on the release of your book. What inspired you to focus on women in politics?
One of my goals in writing this book is to inspire other women to write their life paths and to see that we don’t have to be controlled by our backgrounds, ethnicities, or family histories. My journey toward leadership has been possible because I have had the privilege of working with so many extraordinary women leaders in politics.

Women in Politics book is unique because it elevates the conversation around women’s voice in politics through interviews of women in politics, their personal and professional journeys, and leadership stories– what motivated them to run for office, and what lessons we can learn from their progress and the barriers they’ve overcome to make a difference in the lives of others. And these barriers are powerful, but women must keep going over, around, and through these barriers, one after the other. The journey requires momentum, tenacity, and resilience; it’s not one magic moment.

The interviews are combined with research on the presence of women in our political landscape, as well as reflections on my own experiences. The picture that emerges from this book is how far we have come with women in representation but also how far we have to go.

Your book is truly riveting and empowering. What are some of the reasons why women have less representation in our country’s politics?
Thank you! When I interviewed Amanda Hunter of the Barbara Lee Family Foundation, she described the organization’s most recent focus group research. When participants were asked to picture a governor, an overwhelming majority said they envisioned a man. This phenomenon is a version of what’s commonly known as “unconscious bias.” We cannot imagine seeing a different kind of person doing these jobs. Amanda said, “When a woman is elected into office, it breaks down the imagination barrier in voters’ minds and helps voters reimagine what leadership roles look like, and opens the door for women at all levels in politics.” As Marian Edelman once said, “you can’t be what you can’t see.”

There are many barriers to representation, but I would like to focus on these three cultural barriers: ambition gap, qualification gap, and likeability double standards.

The gender gap in political ambition results from two important factors. First, men are more likely than women to have been encouraged to run for office by another elected official, party leader, or political activist. Second, when women and men have the same qualifications for running for office, they evaluate themselves differently. For example, in a study titled “Men Rule,” when asked, men were almost 60 percent more likely than women to “assess themselves as “very qualified” to run for office. On the other hand, women with the same or even stronger credentials were “more than twice as likely to rate themselves as “not at all qualified.” And What’s more? Most men who said they were not qualified would still consider running.

Studies show that women tend to run because they are encouraged to do so. Women legislators are more likely to say they decided to seek elective office after receiving the suggestion to run. In contrast, men are more likely to say that the decision to run was entirely their idea. From a young age, girls are often taught to diminish their skills and achievements, whereas boys are taught to value characteristics like assertiveness, confidence, and self-promotion – these are traits very valuable to a career in politics.

What do I mean by likability double standards? For example, studies have found that when the press talks about a woman candidate’s looks, she becomes less likable. It doesn’t matter whether the coverage is positive, negative, or neutral. Voters' perception of her as a leader declines when the media mentions a woman’s appearance in any way — whether the commentary is positive or negative. The mere mention of her appearance draws voters' attention to the fact that she is a woman, reminding them of their unconscious bias, which says women cannot be leaders. The same issue does not exist for men. But when the press discusses a man’s appearance (which is very rare since there isn’t much variation in style amongst male politicians), such coverage does not have the same impact on a man as it does on a woman.

In your book, you discuss the importance of women's political representation. Could you elaborate on why it matters and how it impacts more than just women but society as a whole?
Research and interviews prove that women’s political participation advances complex and emerging public policy issues. As Barbara Lee, founder of the Barbara Lee Family Foundation, said, “Women don’t run for office to seek fame and fortune. They run for office to solve problems.”

For example, Men tend to run for office because they seek a leadership position. Women, on the other hand, tend to run because of an issue they care about deeply. We start out advocating for an issue that is personal to us. As women, it’s often an issue related to children and families. Through our advocacy experience, we realize we can do more by holding public office. For example, a study called Representation Matters shows that women in Congress bring their personal and professional experiences and identities to influence legislative priorities. Many of these women in this study view themselves as a “voice for the voiceless,” representing children’s issues and the poor communities whose interests may have been overlooked.

When we look at the legacy of Patricia Schroeder, a former legislator who championed gender equality, we can see the impact one female legislator can make. She engineered the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, which guarantees women and men up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for a family member. She helped pass legislation that prohibits employers from discriminating against pregnant women in employment. Patricia Schroeder was a pilot and a Harvard lawyer who worked to improve the lives of military personnel and suggested that women be allowed to fly combat missions. As a result, Defense Secretary Les Aspin ordered them to do so, and in 1995, the first female fighter pilot flew in combat. When she became the first woman to serve on the Arms Services Committee, her critics started to ask how she can raise two children as a mom and work as a lawmaker. “I have a brain and a uterus, and I use both,” she responded.

Studies have shown that female politicians view themselves as a “voice for the voiceless,” representing children’s issues and the underserved communities whose interests may have been overlooked. Research also has shown that significant advancements in healthcare access, educational opportunities, and women’s rights correlate with more women serving in government. And women sponsor significantly more legislation than their male counterparts.

What are some of the common misconceptions or stereotypes that women in politics often have to contend with?
Our society values a more masculine style of leadership, and as a result, women politicians often worry about coming across as too strong, too opinionated, or taking too much credit. So, when a woman announces her candidacy for public office, people often view her with distrust, and her motives for running are questioned. We are often penalized for being ambitious and strong; no matter what we do, we begin at a significant disadvantage. Similarly, women are socialized to undervalue their skills and accomplishments. Self-promotion is essential for career advancement, but women are more likely to be penalized for exhibiting confidence, self-promotion, and leadership skills.

The most significant barrier of all is the barrier in our imagination. Just as my “good girl” training as a child in Korea limited my imagination, so too has our societal “good girl” training limited our collective imagination of what women can do, be, and achieve.

What can we do to work towards better representation in our system?
Many successful female politicians I speak with say that someone encouraged — or at least planted the seed of the idea — for them to run for political office. This is a very encouraging solution to the cultural issue of girls not being raised thinking about a career in politics. Women can still become interested in running for office with the encouragement of others, so concerted recruitment efforts are key. Research indicates that women will run for office if encouraged to do so. A study by the Center for American Women in Politics (CAWP) discovered that 53 percent of female state representatives answered that they “had not seriously thought about running until someone else suggested it.” In contrast, only 28 percent of male representatives answered this way. Forty-three percent of men answered, “It was entirely my idea to run,” whereas only 26 percent of women responded this way.[23]

Research suggests that having women in powerful positions can inspire other women, and exposure to positive women role models helps reduce the implicit biases that women may hold. Mentors, allies, and role models — all play an essential role in helping to achieve political parity. Through our journeys, we will continue to be inspired and benefited by many women and men who chose to make a difference in people’s lives. It’s up to us to create our legacy by shaping the paths of others who will make a difference.

Women and girls must be empowered and supported to become strong political and community leaders. It is both critical to the career advancement of women and generating broader societal impacts on gender policies. Female leaders in positions of power serve as role models. Women candidates have proven resilient despite many campaign obstacles and losing their elections. When provided adequate support, female candidates will run again and overcome many systemic, racial, gender, and cultural barriers in campaigns.

Mentoring is one of the best strategies to help close the gender gap in politics and achieve political parity. People with power and connections must be willing to take a chance on female candidates and help level the playing field for women who often need more resources and links. While conversations about mentorship, allyship, and role models are usually about how women should help other women, such as the “Lean-In” message, there are male mentorship conversations that are important and necessary.

How does the status of women in politics vary globally, and are there common trends or differences in the challenges they face?
Despite tremendous gains in women’s representation in powerful leadership positions, a significant number of people across the world still do not trust women as influential leaders. A report by the Wilson Center, a nonpartisan, congressionally chartered organization that provides research and analysis of global-affairs issues, states, “Public perceptions regarding women’s ability to lead is a key driver of how much power they will have while in office.” The Reykjavik Index assesses attitudes toward female leadership in the G7 countries—Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the U.S.—as well as India, Kenya, and Nigeria. The 2020/2021 Reykjavik Index for Leadership found that only 41 percent of people in Germany and 38 percent of people in Japan said they felt very comfortable with a woman being the head of government. The remnants of centuries of gender inequality are still very much around us. There is not one single glass ceiling that women in politics need to break through to succeed. In truth, we face numerous barriers blocking our path to power: financial, cultural, racial, and social.

We love how you incorporate the voices of various women throughout your book. Was there a remark from one of these women you find particularly noteworthy and believe should gain greater recognition?
When I interviewed Laphonza Butler, former president of EMILY’s List and now a California U.S. Senator, I asked her how women can overcome these systemic barriers. Her response was quick and confident. She simply said, “Do it anyway.” “Women tend to look at our opportunities from a place of lack,” Laphonza went on to explain. “We think either we don’t have the financial resources, or we lack a certain set of skills or experience. But we need to focus on what we do bring to the table. You have the lived experience of advocating for your aging parent in a nursing home or of working for your local school. Your journey prepares you. So, even if you lack certain knowledge or resources, do it anyway. For the rest of it, that’s what organizations like EMILY’s List are for.”

If you’re inclined to run, do not feel limited by what you lack. Instead, reach out for support and utilize the many resources available to you. Focus on what you do bring to the table. Even if you are disadvantaged compared to wealthy and well-connected male opponents, do it anyway.

Looking back in time, what do you think is the root cause of these sentiments of women not being fit to run the government?
While we celebrate the accomplishments of women, it’s crucial to remember the longstanding systemic gender discrimination women have faced. Generations of cultural, systemic, and racial barriers won’t dissolve overnight. We’re in the midst of a profound yet still unfolding transition.

Viewing this transition through a historical lens underscores the magnitude of what we still need to overcome. In California, for example, only 192 women have served in the state’s legislature since 1911, when women were first allowed to hold office. This is out of over 4,497 total California state legislators. With this context, we’re reminded that while the numbers might improve, we have generations of inequality to compensate for.

We have a record number of women serving as governors, with 24% (12 women Governors). In the U.S. Congress, women hold 27.9% of all seats (124 women in the House/25 women in the Senate). In the state legislatures, women now hold 32.7% of all seats. Women of color comprise 23 percent of the U.S. population but only 11 percent of U.S. Representatives. Only three out of one hundred U.S. Senators are women of color.[48] It’s worse, still, in executive offices where only twelve out of fifty governors are women, and only one is a woman of color.

Significant progress has been made, but how do we sustain and expand on our critical successes to ensure gender parity in politics? One of the most significant root causes of underrepresentation is that Women politicians still report being excluded from financial circles that include the wealthiest and most well-connected donors. The gender wealth gap is a consequence of the fact that women have not been financially independent for long; it’s only in the 20th century that women began pursuing financial independence from men. Men continue to have deeper pockets, and the wage gap continues to be a problem in America, as women continue to earn only seventy-nine cents for every dollar men earn.

The power and influence gap: In a 2015 New York Times article titled “Fewer Women Run big companies than men named John,” the story compares the number of chief executives at S&P 1500 firms named John, Robert, William, or James to the number of top female executives in those firms. For every female CEO, there were four men named John, Robert, William, and James. As you can see, these opportunities still limit women’s ability to amass wealth and influence, and the wealth gap does impact women’s ability to get elected to political office.

What message do you hope to send to readers?
Throughout this book, I discussed the barriers that keep women from achieving full political parity and how others have overcome them. The electoral environment is highly competitive and has biases against women, but these barriers are not insurmountable. The motivations, the journey, and the rewards of public service are inherently different for women than men, but that shouldn’t keep us from taking our place. Despite the odds, thousands of women have found ways to hold office and make a difference, getting us closer to a true representative democracy. I hope these stories will serve as a resource and inspiration to others who want to change the world — one elected office at a time.

Your career path was carved out for you partly because of your sister taking her own life. What do you think Bo Yoon would think about the woman you have become?
I spent my life thinking about her, but I never thought about the question you’re asking. I think she might be disappointed that I do not have children.

For obvious reasons, mental health is a huge topic for you, and you even founded the National Asian Women’s Health Organization. Can you tell us a bit about your organization and why you founded it?
In traditional Korean culture, women are to be seen and not heard. We are raised to be respectful and silent “good girls,” which meant keeping my thoughts and opinions to myself. Any direct communication – even direct eye contact-was discouraged. So, when my older sister died by suicide at 17, we were unaware she was struggling with depression. Those types of things were not discussed in our family.

I began to understand that my sister couldn’t seek help because we were taught to keep our personal problems to ourselves. The morning she hung herself in our room, she showed me packages of sleeping pills she had taken. But I was too young to help her then, and even if I had been older, I would have been held back by those around me who celebrated silence as strength. Now, I know that our culture didn't leave room for good girls to feel so desperate or the space to express that desperation. Asking for help would only disgrace the family.

In 1993, I founded the National Asian Women’s Health Organization and launched multi-year national public awareness and research education campaigns focused on Asian American women’s health issues, including mental health.

For far too many years, Asian Americans from a wide variety of cultures have been considered the “model minority.” Although the early 1990s were considered an exciting time for women’s health because the National Institutes of Health established the Office of Research on Women’s Health, there was very little investigation into the health crisis facing Asian Americans, mainly because no one thought there was anything to investigate.

You have passionately worked towards mental health awareness and bills, including Assembly Bill 509, which led to the establishment of California’s Office of Suicide Prevention. Can you talk about this work?
Before serving as California State Assemblymember, I was the California Director of the American Public Health Association. Under the direction of former U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher, I developed a national campaign to eliminate health disparities, bringing together over 50 public and private sector leaders to implement the campaign’s goals and strategies. I have been a vocal advocate for healthcare reform and addressing health disparities in minority communities, including racial disparities in women’s health. During this time, the Surgeon General simultaneously launched the first-ever national action plan for suicide prevention. This campaign revealed many gaps in government services – for example, many states did not have dedicated suicide prevention agencies to coordinate the various efforts at the federal, state, and local levels. I introduced AB509 in my first year in office, which created the California Office of Suicide Prevention- its primary responsibility is to act as the lead government agency to coordinate resources, identify effective early intervention programs, and promote education and awareness in schools.

In addition to these efforts, I have been a proponent of legislative action to address racial disparities in women’s health, such as the California Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities Act, which aimed to reduce health disparities in minority populations by increasing data collection and analysis, improving healthcare workforce diversity, and promoting community-based interventions.

Where do you think society is when it comes to recognizing mental health these days? What more would you like to see done?
While mental illness may impact all Americans directly or indirectly, people do not have equal access to treatment services. Stigma and shame are believed to figure prominently in lower mental health care utilization. Encouraging a better understanding of mental illness and suicide can help reduce the stigma discouraging individuals and their families from getting the help they need.

Suicidal ideation is a growing concern among young people today. The recent increase in the number of children presenting to emergency rooms with suicidal thoughts highlights the urgency of addressing this issue. The Journal of Pediatrics recently published a study showing that these visits have risen by a staggering 59% in the last three years, with the percentage of children experiencing suicidal ideation increasing from 34.6% to 44.3%. This is a devastating trend that must be reversed.

The shortage of mental health professionals, combined with the stigma surrounding mental health issues, continues to limit families' access to mental care. The increasing number of children and teenagers being seen in emergency rooms for suicidal thoughts highlights the need for urgent action to address this issue. A 2018 report by the University of California, San Francisco predicted that by 2028, demand for psychologists and other therapists would be 40% more than supply, even before the pandemic further skyrocketed the need. The shortage of mental health practitioners is particularly dire for children, with close to a third of California’s 58 counties having no child and adolescent psychiatrists at all, according to the American Academy of Child Psychiatry. In addition, the CDC reported that suicide rates among young Black Americans aged 10-24 years increased by 36.6 percent between 2018 and 2021, demonstrating the need for culturally competent interventions and prevention efforts.

For example, California’s shortage of mental health professionals is a complex issue that requires a multi-faceted solution. The issue is immense and has significantly impacted millions of people suffering from mental health conditions and their families. This can be achieved through various measures, including tuition reimbursement programs, licensure processes, and community college programs offering specialized mental health training.

One example of such a measure is Senator Wiener’s Mental Health Workforce Legislation, which the Governor vetoed. The legislation would have provided increased funding for mental health workforce education and training programs in community colleges. It incentivizes the development of mental health professionals by offering tuition reimbursement and loan repayment programs. This program can be replicated in other states, providing a much-needed boost to the mental health workforce and improving access to care for children and teenagers.

Do you feel like Asian communities have started seeing beyond everyone being just a “good girl”?
New generations of American women have been raised with a better message. Rather than being taught to be a "good girl," they are told it's okay to speak up. They've been taught that women can lead, too. They're actually encouraged to do so.

Mental health is often one of the health that isn’t as covered by insurance. How would you like the US to work towards better supporting mental health?
The increase in the number of children presenting to emergency rooms with suicidal thoughts is a sobering reminder that suicide is a real and present danger for young people. It is up to all of us to support those struggling and help prevent suicide. By being aware of the signs of suicidal ideation, starting conversations with those in need, and reducing the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide, we can help ensure that all young people have access to the support they need to thrive and live healthy, fulfilling lives.

Every day, each of us can help reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness by being aware of and altering our behavior. By working to educate the public, I believe we can change the focus from staggering statistics to the great hope for prevention and recovery that exists in the mental health field today. Unlike physical health, mental health services are usually contracted out with many health plans.

Mental health is a critical issue in California, with a significant shortage of mental health professionals across the state, particularly for children and teenagers. Despite efforts by government and community leaders to increase investment in workforce development, the situation continues to worsen, with more and more children being seen in emergency rooms for suicidal thoughts.

My advice would be that it is OK to ask for help.

What advice would you give someone struggling with mental health?
The increase in the number of children presenting to emergency rooms with suicidal thoughts is a sobering reminder that suicide is a real and present danger for young people. It is up to all of us to support those struggling and help prevent suicide. By being aware of the signs of suicidal ideation, starting conversations with those in need, and reducing the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide, we can help ensure that all young people have access to the support they need to thrive and live healthy, fulfilling lives. We need to address these inequities by changing the social, cultural, and economic status of many Americans who cannot afford access to healthcare. The revolution in science led to many effective treatment options for mental illness, and those treatments should benefit every American regardless of race, ethnicity, and gender. Everyone in need must have access to high-quality, effective, and affordable mental health services.

What piece of advice would you give to girls hoping to pursue a career in politics?
As Senator Butler said during our interview, “Women tend to look at our opportunities from a place of lack. We think either we don’t have the financial resources or we lack a certain set of skills or experience. But we need to focus on what we do bring to the table. You have the lived experience, and your journey prepares you. So, even if you lack certain knowledge or resources, do it anyway.”

My advice: If you’re inclined to run, do not feel limited by what you lack. Instead, reach out for support and utilize the many resources available to you. Focus on what you do bring to the table. Even if you are disadvantaged compared to wealthy and well-connected male opponents, do it anyway.

Are there any upcoming projects you would like to share?
Yes! I am hosting a holiday donation drive for a local women’s shelter – anyone who donates to My Sister’s House will receive a signed copy of my book. In honor of Women’s History Month in March of 2024, there will be several speaker series I will be co-hosting (https://www.maryhayashi.com/events/).

It's been a crazy past few years. How have you been staying positive?
Interviewing women for the book during the COVID shelter-in-place kept me positive (P.S. When I have free time, I like to read Susan Miller's Horoscope!)

What is your motto in life?
Do it anyway!

To learn more about Mary Hayashi, please follow the links below:
Mary Hayashi
Instagram: @maryhayashica
Facebook: @maryhayashi

Mary Hayashi - Empowering the Women of the Future