Representing Women: Sex, Gender, and Legislative Behavior in Arizona and California / Edition 1

by Beth Reingold

Overview

Women in public office are often assumed to "make a difference" for women, as women—in other words, to represent their female constituents better than do their male counterparts. But is sex really an accurate predictor of a legislator's political choices and actions? In this book, Beth Reingold compares the representational activities and attitudes of male and female members of the Arizona and California state legislatures to illuminate the broader implications of the election and integration of women into public office. In the process, she challenges many of the assumptions that underlie popular expectations of women and men in politics.

Using in-depth interviews, survey responses, and legislative records, Reingold actually uncovers more similarities between female and male politicians than differences. Moreover, the stories she presents strongly suggest that rather than assuming that who our representatives are determines what they will do in office, we must acknowledge the possibility that the influence of gender on legislative behavior can be weakened, distorted, or accentuated by powerful forces within the social and political contexts of elective office.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780807848500
Publisher:	The University of North Carolina Press
Publication date:	04/24/2000
Edition description:	1
Pages:	352
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.79(d)
Lexile:	1610L (what's this?)

About the Author

Beth Reingold is professor of Political Science and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality studies at Emory University in Atlanta.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction

Part I. Representing Women in Theory and in Context
1. Deconstructing Difference
2. Gender, Power, and Political Culture in Arizona and California

Part II. Defining the Parameters of Representation
3. Representational Priorities
4. Women as a Constituency Group

Part III. Policymaking
5. Policy Preferences
6. Policy Priorities
7. The Rules of the Game

Part IV. Conclusions, Explanations, and Implications
8. When Women Do Not Make a Difference
9. The Difference It Makes

Appendixes
A. Research Design
B. Roll Call Votes
C. Legislative Subject Codes and Corresponding Standing Committees
Notes
References
Tables
2.1Leadership Positions in the Arizona State Legislature, 1990
2.2 Leadership Positions in the California State Legislature, 1990
2.3 Legislators' Perceptions of Women's Status

3.1 Constituent Responsiveness
3.2 Legislative Activities

4.1 Constituency Group Support: Arizona Legislators
4.2 Constituency Group Support: California Legislators
4.3 Do Female Legislators Make (or Should They Make) a Difference on Women's Issues?

5.1 Legislators' Opinions on Gender Gap and Women's Rights Issues
5.2 Roll Call Voting: Percentage of Liberal Votes Cast
5.3 Gender Gaps in Policy Preferences of California Residents, 1989-1990

6.1 Policy Activism and Leadership
6.2 Policy Leadership Index
6.3 Policy Priorities among Legislative Committee Members
6.4 Policy Priorities among Bill Sponsors
6.5 Relevant Committee Assignments among Policy Activists
6.6 Feminist Policy Activity among Policy Activists

7.1 Recommended Legislative Strategies
7.2 Sources of Personal Power
7.3 Attitudes toward Hardball Politics

8.1 Summary of Sex Differences in Legislative Behavior
8.2 Institutional Status of Legislators Who "Act for" Women
8.3 Behavioral Profile of Self-Identified Representatives of Women

A.1 Sample Interview Schedule
A.2 Sample Written Questionnaire
A.3 Response Rates
A.4 Personal Background Characteristics of Arizona and California State Legislators
A.5 Legislative Status of Arizona and California State Legislators
A.6 Party Affiliations in Unweighted Questionnaire Sample

B.1 Arizona Roll Call Votes, 1990
B.2 California Roll Call Votes, 1989-1990

C.1 Legislative Subject Codes
C.2 Issue Areas and Legislative Subject Codes
C.3 Issue Area Committees in the Arizona and California State Legislatures

What People are Saying About This

Earl Black

Does the election of women to state legislatures make much difference in how women are represented? In her excellent and provocative [book], Beth Reingold convincingly argues that often it does not.

From the Publisher

A careful and important study that should be read by students and scholars of women and politics.—Political Science Quarterly

Reingold's book is different from other works in the field and offers a fresh look at the literature on women with regard to elections, representation, policy making, and power. . . . [A] fluid and very readable narrative.—Choice

Representing Women offers a valuable and interesting case study of gender and representation. It makes an important contribution to the continuing theoretical debates and empirical studies regarding women and politics, especially by integrating these two bodies of literature together. I especially enjoyed its marked thoughtfulness of style.—Virginia Sapiro, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Does the election of women to state legislatures make much difference in how women are represented? In her excellent and provocative Representing Women, Beth Reingold convincingly argues that often it does not. She reaches this conclusion after comparing the experiences of female legislators in California, a state dominated by liberal Democrats, and Arizona, a state dominated by conservative Republicans.—Earl Black, Rice University

Editorial Reviews

Reingold s book offers a fresh look at the literature on women with regard to elections, representation, policy making, and power.

"Choice"

Reingold 's book offers a fresh look at the literature on women with regard to elections, representation, policy making, and power.

"Choice"

Reingold_s book offers a fresh look at the literature on women with regard to elections, representation, policy making, and power.

"Choice"

Reingolda[s book offers a fresh look at the literature on women with regard to elections, representation, policy making, and power.

"Choice"

"Representing Women" offers a valuable and interesting case study of gender and representation.

Virginia Sapiro, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Reingolds book offers a fresh look at the literature on women with regard to elections, representation, policy making, and power.

"Choice"

""Representing Women" offers a valuable and interesting case study of gender and representation.

Virginia Sapiro, University of Wisconsin-Madison"

"ReingoldUs book offers a fresh look at the literature on women with regard to elections, representation, policy making, and power.

"Choice""

A careful and important study that should be read by students and scholars of women and politics.

"Political Science Quarterly"

From the Publisher