“I try to make it a habit of shaking hands with men and not hugging,” said the Republican from Brookhaven. Brookhaven Republican said with a smile that there is a Capitol joke about her not being a hugger. She will sometimes bring another person to help her meet with men one-on-1 if it seems a little strange. But, unlike hugging, she states that she makes this decision on a case by case basis. This is not a blanket policy. Doty said that he didn’t know of any woman who had this kind of rule. However, men in Mississippi politics are quite different. Rep. Robert Foster (R-Hernando), a candidate for governor made national headlines last month when he refused to ride along with this reporter on a campaign ride. He said that he wouldn’t be alone with any woman, not even his wife, in any work context. Foster’s Republican opponent in the gubernatorial race, Bill Waller Jr., a former Chief Justice on the state Supreme Court, said that he followed the same rule days later. Last week, their opponent for nomination, Lt. Governor. Tate Reeves took time from the Republican gubernatorial discussion to praise Foster for his stance. In politics, however, having a policy that you will never meet with anyone of the opposite sexual orientation is a right that men only have. Mississippi Today interviewed conservative women from Mississippi politics about the controversy. “There are 122 Mississippi House members. Missy McGee (R-Hattiesburg) said that only 15 of the 122 members of the Mississippi House are women. “So, this conversation that has been taking place over the past few weeks is concerning to my because if we start to limit men and women being able to collaborate, it will only hurt women.” Only 13.8 percent are Mississippi’s legislators, which is the lowest percentage in any United States Legislature, despite the fact that 52 percent of Mississippi’s population is female. One in three Mississippi legislators is white over 55. Mississippi was also the only state that hadn’t sent a woman into Congress until last spring. Governor. Phil Bryant named Cindy Hyde Smith, then-Commissioner for Agriculture, to the U.S. Senate. Lynn Fitch was the only woman elected to this office. Fitch was asked if she would work with unchaperoned men. Fitch stated that she has worked in a male-dominated industry for 34 years. Waller described his decision to not meet alone with the women with whom he worked “common sense,” adding transparency and appearances were important in this “day and age” and that people need to feel safe. Foster also made this point, saying that it is possible to mistake a professional relationship for one that is personal. However, women say that when they decide to not be with certain men, it comes down to safety. Doty stated that although it’s not something women think about, “It’s not really discussed from a woman’s perspective.” Doty laughed when asked if it was disingenuous for men to have policies against women being alone, even though they are traditionally the ones instigators of inappropriate behavior. “That’s not a common thing in our society. That someone says, “Sally Doty put all the moves on me.” This is not what the conversation usually turns into. It is not the same with women. Men will make inappropriate comments, but they can make a pass. It’s better to have someone to help you if you feel like that’s something you might be in.” While conversations about whether or not it is appropriate for men and women to work together have become highly politicized with all three Republican candidates for governor expressing support for Foster’s decision and Jim Hood, the Democratic front-runner for the Democratic nomination, disapproving of it. McGee disagrees with the notion that one’s politics justifies the recommendation that one should not work alone with someone from the opposite gender. “Appropriate behavior doesn’t lend itself to conservative (ideologies) or liberal (ideologies). McGee stated that everyone, regardless of their political affiliation, should present themselves in a professional manner. Foster was initially drawn to this notion of appearances after his campaign stated to this reporter that they wouldn’t allow a ride-along unless I brought a male colleague. Foster initially favored this idea of appearances when his campaign told the reporter that they wouldn’t allow a ride-along unless he brought a male colleague on the reporting trip. However, Foster wrote his first Facebook post about his decision and called it the “Billy Graham rule” referring to the evangelical minister. The most significant follower of the Billy Graham rule is Vice President Mike Pence. This compliment refers to Christians who are believed to have been washed in blood. Hyde-Smith’s office stated to Mississippi Today that senator Pence “isn’t interested in participating” in the story. Hyde-Smith also made her name as one of few women working in male-dominated fields, serving as chairman of the Agriculture Committee and then as the first female Commissioner for Agriculture. Her chief of staff, deputy Chief of Staff, and press secretary all work for the U.S. Senate. In an interview with Mississippi Today last October, Hyde Smith dismissed the notion that being a woman had ever affected her work relationships. “I don’t think about gender as much. Hyde-Smith stated that the opportunities were there and felt like God called her to them. Mississippians will vote in the Republican and Democratic primaries on Tuesday. However, Fitch, the Republican candidate for the nomination to the office of Attorney General, is not the only Republican woman running. Doty is currently working on a book on the 25 Mississippi women who served in the Mississippi Senate. She said that regardless of who wins, she hopes he will be open to placing women in key positions in his staff, even though he doesn’t feel comfortable being with her. “If someone believes that, I respect him. It’s…I don’t know. This presents some challenges. It presents some challenges. Doty stated, “You don’t have to keep the woman out”