Oxford University Press, USA
More Women Can Run: Gender and Pathways to the State Legislatures
More Women Can Run: Gender and Pathways to the State Legislatures
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Women remain dramatically underrepresented in elective office, including in entry-level political offices. While they enjoy the freedom to stand for office and therefore have an equal legal footing with men, this persistent gender imbalance raises pressing questions about democratic
legitimacy, the inclusivity of American politics, and the quality of political representation. The reasons for women's underrepresentation remain the subject of much debate. One explanation--that the United States lacks sufficient openings for political newcomers--has become less compelling in
recent years, as states that have adopted term limits have not seen the expected gains in women's office holding. Other accounts about candidate scarcity, gender inequalities in society, and the lingering effects of gendered socialization have some merit; however, these accounts still fail to
explain the relatively low numbers. Drawing upon original surveys conducted in 1981 and 2008 by the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) of women state legislators across all fifty states, and follow-up interviews after the 2008 survey, the authors find that gender differences in pathways to the legislatures, first evident in
1981, have been surprisingly persistent over time. They find that, while the ambition framework better explains men's decisions to run for office, a relationally embedded model of candidate emergence better captures women's decision-making, with women's decisions more often influenced by the
encouragement and support of parties, organizations, and family members. By rethinking the nature of women's representation, this study calls for a reorientation of academic research on women's election to office and provides insight into new strategies for political practitioners concerned about women's political equality.
Author: Susan J. Carroll, Kira Sanbonmatsu
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Published: 09/17/2013
Pages: 176
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.50lbs
Size: 9.10h x 6.10w x 0.50d
ISBN: 9780199322435
Review Citation(s):
Choice 06/01/2014
legitimacy, the inclusivity of American politics, and the quality of political representation. The reasons for women's underrepresentation remain the subject of much debate. One explanation--that the United States lacks sufficient openings for political newcomers--has become less compelling in
recent years, as states that have adopted term limits have not seen the expected gains in women's office holding. Other accounts about candidate scarcity, gender inequalities in society, and the lingering effects of gendered socialization have some merit; however, these accounts still fail to
explain the relatively low numbers. Drawing upon original surveys conducted in 1981 and 2008 by the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) of women state legislators across all fifty states, and follow-up interviews after the 2008 survey, the authors find that gender differences in pathways to the legislatures, first evident in
1981, have been surprisingly persistent over time. They find that, while the ambition framework better explains men's decisions to run for office, a relationally embedded model of candidate emergence better captures women's decision-making, with women's decisions more often influenced by the
encouragement and support of parties, organizations, and family members. By rethinking the nature of women's representation, this study calls for a reorientation of academic research on women's election to office and provides insight into new strategies for political practitioners concerned about women's political equality.
Author: Susan J. Carroll, Kira Sanbonmatsu
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Published: 09/17/2013
Pages: 176
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.50lbs
Size: 9.10h x 6.10w x 0.50d
ISBN: 9780199322435
Review Citation(s):
Choice 06/01/2014
About the Author
Susan J. Carroll is Professor of Political Science and Women's and Gender Studies and Senior Scholar at the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. In 2014 Carroll was awarded the Lifetime Contribution to Political Studies Award by the Political Studies Association.
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