Essential Estrogen

According to the Democratic National Committee (DNC), states Nevada and South Carolina were moved into the front of the Presidential selection process because it was felt Iowa and New Hampshire were not representative of minorities. Because of this it is interesting to note that South Carolina has the lowest political participation by women in the nation.

In South Carolina, only 8.8% of the legislature is comprised of women. Further, this is a percentage which has fallen significantly since 1998 (when the state saw it's high of 12.9%).

Is it better to place a state with a more diverse percentages of population at the top of the presidential nominating calendar in which the minorities don't participate in the process - or - is it better to have a less diverse state which has higher percentages of participation?

Since we refuse to believe there are no women in South Carolina with political aspirations, we must believe that South Carolina as a whole is not woman-friendly in its politics. In an age when women are making great strides and the Democratic party is looking at its (arguably) first viable woman for the post of president, it is unbelievable that such a state would be selected to lead the process.