Women make up 50.8 percent of the U.S. population, according to 2000 U.S. Census data.

Women make up 15 percent of the U.S. Senate and about 16 percent of the House of Representatives.

If slightly more than half of the country’s population is female, women’s issues cannot be represented proportionately if they comprise these small fractions of the bicameral system.

Women are making strides in politics, as seen with Nancy Pelosi, the likely candidate for the next Speaker of the House.

But according to ipu.org, the U.S. still ranks 67th in the world for the number of women in national parliaments. Clearly, the U.S. is making progress, but not enough to fully represent the issues that arise with the growing number of minorities.

There will never be equal gender, race or economic representation unless people who are part of those demographics are part of the congressional decision-making process.

Those who hold representative roles in Congress can propose legislation to address the issues these demographics address on a daily basis, but they can never understand all the factors. Bringing viewpoints and opinions to a discussion is easy, because, like other people, those representatives view from on outsider’s perspective what the issues are. The experience, however, is absent unless the number of representatives is more equally proportionate to the demographics of the nation they govern.

The issue at hand is not just of equal representation between women and men. It is a matter of equal representation of citizens from diverse economic backgrounds and constituencies. It is a matter of equal representation of citizens from diverse racial backgrounds and constituencies.

Voter options may be limited to those who run for office. Those from poorer economic backgrounds may not have the financial resources comparable to a candidate from a wealthier background.

The American people can make a difference however, in helping the candidates they feel are capable of holding public office by being vocal. Being vocal doesn’t simply imply penciling in the bubbles on the ballot, but lending a hand when they can to spreading the word about an outstanding member of their local political community.

Basically, we’re not there yet, but we’re making progress. If the American people want to form a diverse congressional bicameral reality, they need to continue to not let just the loudest politicians be heard, but those who have the life experience to compose the legislation needed for true equality.