Women and Politics: Paths to Power and Political Influence

by Julie Dolan Macalester College, Melissa M. Deckman Washington College, Michele L. Swers Georgetown University

Overview

Women and Politics: Paths to Power and Political Influence examines the role of women in politics from the early women's movements to the female politicians in power today. The revised fourth edition includes:

• a new preface analyzing the 2020 elections, focusing on the historic victory of Kamala Harris and the gendered and racist critiques she endured on the campaign trail.
• recognition of the centennial of women's suffrage, with greater attention to Black and Indigenous women's often overlooked contributions to the fight for suffrage and expanded rights
• election results from the historic 2020 elections when more women filed congressional candidacies than ever before and women’s numbers in both Congress and state legislatures reached record highs.
• analysis of the gender gap in voting in 2020, focusing on both race and gender.
• updates reflecting President Biden's historic cabinet picks, including Deb Haaland as the first Native American to lead the Department of the Interior and Janet Yellen as the first woman to lead the Treasury Department.
• coverage of the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the nomination and confirmation of her replacement, Amy Coney Barrett.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538154335
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	08/17/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	448
Sales rank:	964,972
File size:	100 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Julie Dolan is Professor of Political Science at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. She earned her PhD from American University. Her scholarly interests include American government and politics, women and politics, and bureaucratic politics. She has received a number of prestigious awards for her scholarship and publishes in a variety of journals including Women & Politics, Public Administration Review, PS: Political Science and Politics, the Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory. Her most recent research focuses on issues of political representation in the bureaucracy.

Melissa M. Deckman is the Louis L. Goldstein Professor of Public Affairs and Chair of the Political Science Department at Washington College. She earned her PhD from American University. Her areas of specialty include religion and politics, women and politics, and American political behavior, and she publishes in a variety of journals, including Journal of Women, Politics, and Public Policy, PS: Political Science and Politics, and American Politics Research,which most recently published her work (coauthored with John McTague) on the impact of the “War on Women” on the 2012 presidential election. Her forthcoming book, Mama Grizzlies and Politics, examines the role of women in the Tea Party in America.

Michele L. Swers is Professor of American Government in the Department of Government at Georgetown University. She earned her PhD from Harvard University. Her research and teaching interests encompass Congress, congressional elections, and women and politics. She has written two books on women and representation in Congress: The Difference Women Make: The Policy Impact of Women in Congress and Women in the Club: Gender and Policy Making in the Senate.

Table of Contents

List of Figures and Tables ix

Preface: Updated 4th Edition xi

Acknowledgments xxxi

About the Authors xxxv

1 Introduction and Theoretical Framework 1

History and Women’s Political Interests 3

Women’s Representation 7

PART I: WOMEN’S PATHS TO POWER

2 Women’s Paths to Power 13

Women in Social Movements and Interest Groups 13

Early Women Activists and the Fight For Suffrage 14

Feminism, the Second Wave (1960s–Present) 22

The Rebirth of the Feminist Movement 23

The Emergence of the Older and Younger Branches of the

Feminist Movement 25

The Equal Rights Amendment 32

Women and Interest Groups 37

Conservative Women’s Groups Fight Back 42

Reinvigoration of the Feminist Movement and Conservative

Women’s Activism 45

Conclusion 53

3 The Gender Gap in Elections and Public Opinion 55

Courting the Women’s Vote: The Early Years 56

The Emergence of the Modern Gender Gap 59

The Gender Gaps: Voting Trends Across Different Groups of

Women 65

Issues That Explain the Gender Gap 68

Women’s Vote in a Competitive Political Climate 72

Does the Gender Gap Bring Women Political Power? 83

Do Women Vote for Women? 86

Hillary Clinton and the Women’s Vote 89

Conclusion 94

4 Gender and the Decision to Run for Office 97

A Confidence Gap: Women Underestimate Their Political Abilities 101

Political Parties’ Efforts to Incorporate Women 105

Family Constraints 113

Symbolic Representation: Does It Matter Whether Women Run

for Office? 115

Conclusion 120

5 Women on the Campaign Trail 123

Challenges on the Campaign Trail 127

Voter Stereotypes about Female Candidates 128

Media Coverage of Female Candidates 135

Female Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates 140

Navigating Gender on the Campaign Trail: The 2016 Elections 143

Conclusion 156

PART II: WOMEN IN POWER

6 Women in Local Politics and Government 159

Descriptive Representation: Women Serving in Local Government 163

The Numbers: Women as Mayors and Local Executives 165

The Numbers: Women on City and Council Councils 169

The Numbers: Women Serving as School Board Members,

Clerks, Sheriffs, and Other Local Officers 171

What Determines Women’s Representation in Such Offices? 174

Local Office as Stepping-stones: Filling the Pipeline? 180

Substantive Representation: Does Having Women in Local

Government Matter? 181

Women as Political Actors Outside of Government 188

Conclusion 194

7 Women in Congress and the State Legislatures 197

Women and Representation 198

Women’s Representation in Legislative Bodies across the World 201

Women’s Representation in Congress and the State

Legislatures across Time 204

The Advancement of Women in Congress 208

Women in Congress and State Legislatures: A Distinctive

Impact on Policy? 218

Party, Ideology, and Constituent Interests 221

Race, Ethnicity, and Social Class 225

Institutional Position 228

Gender, Race, and Institutional Norms 232

Critical Mass and Policy Influence 233

Women in Leadership 235

Conclusion 239

8 Women in the Executive Branch 241

Women’s Access to the Executive Branch: Masculinity, Power,

and the Executive Branch 243

Descriptive Representation 246

Presidential and Gubernatorial Cabinets 251

Linking Descriptive and Substantive Representation: Do

Women Make a Difference? 257

Challenges to Providing Substantive Representation 261

Power and Leadership Style 265

Conclusion 267

9 Women in the Judiciary 269

Why the Courts Are Important 272

Women in the Judiciary 274

Women on the Supreme Court 278

O’Connor, Ginsburg, and Beyond: Gender and the Supreme Court 282

Women in the State Judiciary 290

The Difference Women Judges Make 296

Do Women Judges Use A “Different Voice”? 297

Empirical Studies: The Impact of Sex on Jurisprudence 300

Gender and the Supreme Court: Why Gender Matters 304

Beyond the Essentialist Argument: Why Gender Still Matters 307

Conclusion 309

Appendix A: “Declaration of Sentiments” and “Resolutions”

Adopted by the Seneca Falls Convention of 1848 311

Appendix B: National Organization for Women’s Bill of Rights

and Redstockings Manifesto 315

References 319

Index 385

Interviews

List of Figures and Tables ix Preface: Updated 4th Edition xi Acknowledgments xxxi About the Authors xxxv 1 Introduction and Theoretical Framework 1 History and Women’s Political Interests 3 Women’s Representation 7 PART I: WOMEN’S PATHS TO POWER 2 Women’s Paths to Power 13 Women in Social Movements and Interest Groups 13 Early Women Activists and the Fight For Suffrage 14 Feminism, the Second Wave (1960s–Present) 22 The Rebirth of the Feminist Movement 23 The Emergence of the Older and Younger Branches of the Feminist Movement 25 The Equal Rights Amendment 32 Women and Interest Groups 37 Conservative Women’s Groups Fight Back 42 Reinvigoration of the Feminist Movement and Conservative Women’s Activism 45 Conclusion 53 3 The Gender Gap in Elections and Public Opinion 55 Courting the Women’s Vote: The Early Years 56 The Emergence of the Modern Gender Gap 59 The Gender Gaps: Voting Trends Across Different Groups of Women 65 Issues That Explain the Gender Gap 68 Women’s Vote in a Competitive Political Climate 72 Does the Gender Gap Bring Women Political Power? 83 Do Women Vote for Women? 86 Hillary Clinton and the Women’s Vote 89 Conclusion 94 4 Gender and the Decision to Run for Office 97 A Confidence Gap: Women Underestimate Their Political Abilities 101 Political Parties’ Efforts to Incorporate Women 105 Family Constraints 113 Symbolic Representation: Does It Matter Whether Women Run for Office? 115 Conclusion 120 5 Women on the Campaign Trail 123 Challenges on the Campaign Trail 127 Voter Stereotypes about Female Candidates 128 Media Coverage of Female Candidates 135 Female Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates 140 Navigating Gender on the Campaign Trail: The 2016 Elections 143 Conclusion 156 PART II: WOMEN IN POWER 6 Women in Local Politics and Government 159 Descriptive Representation: Women Serving in Local Government 163 The Numbers: Women as Mayors and Local Executives 165 The Numbers: Women on City and Council Councils 169 The Numbers: Women Serving as School Board Members, Clerks, Sheriffs, and Other Local Officers 171 What Determines Women’s Representation in Such Offices? 174 Local Office as Stepping-stones: Filling the Pipeline? 180 Substantive Representation: Does Having Women in Local Government Matter? 181 Women as Political Actors Outside of Government 188 Conclusion 194 7 Women in Congress and the State Legislatures 197 Women and Representation 198 Women’s Representation in Legislative Bodies across the World 201 Women’s Representation in Congress and the State Legislatures across Time 204 The Advancement of Women in Congress 208 Women in Congress and State Legislatures: A Distinctive Impact on Policy? 218 Party, Ideology, and Constituent Interests 221 Race, Ethnicity, and Social Class 225 Institutional Position 228 Gender, Race, and Institutional Norms 232 Critical Mass and Policy Influence 233 Women in Leadership 235 Conclusion 239 8 Women in the Executive Branch 241 Women’s Access to the Executive Branch: Masculinity, Power, and the Executive Branch 243 Descriptive Representation 246 Presidential and Gubernatorial Cabinets 251 Linking Descriptive and Substantive Representation: Do Women Make a Difference? 257 Challenges to Providing Substantive Representation 261 Power and Leadership Style 265 Conclusion 267 9 Women in the Judiciary 269 Why the Courts Are Important 272 Women in the Judiciary 274 Women on the Supreme Court 278 O’Connor, Ginsburg, and Beyond: Gender and the Supreme Court 282 Women in the State Judiciary 290 The Difference Women Judges Make 296 Do Women Judges Use A “Different Voice”? 297 Empirical Studies: The Impact of Sex on Jurisprudence 300 Gender and the Supreme Court: Why Gender Matters 304 Beyond the Essentialist Argument: Why Gender Still Matters 307 Conclusion 309 Appendix A: “Declaration of Sentiments” and “Resolutions” Adopted by the Seneca Falls Convention of 1848 311 Appendix B: National Organization for Women’s Bill of Rights and Redstockings Manifesto 315 References 319 Index 385

Editorial Reviews

An accessible and engaging analysis of women as political actors in the United States. The text will definitely help students acquire a nuanced and deep understanding of women and politics.

Jaclyn Kettler

Women and Politics delivers the best and most comprehensive text on women’s access to and participation in the political process in the United States. It’s sweeping in its breadth, covering historical as well as contemporary examples, from local school board and city council politics to the presidency and the Supreme Court, and with illustrations of conservative and progressive women, both Republican and Democrat. It uses theory to explore contradictions and anecdotes to make the controversies come alive. This is the perfect text for a gender and politics course.

Catherine Connolly

This is an outstanding text. It offers an engaging look at the ways in which women participate in the political process and in government and synthesizes the latest scholarship and data on women in politics in a way that is accessible for students.

Judithanne Scourfield McLauchlan

As a scholar of women and politics, it is refreshing to see such a well-researched, balanced, and comprehensive take on the role women have and will continue to have in the American political system. I highly recommend it for students of women and politics.

Jennie Sweet-Cushman

An accessible and engaging analysis of women as political actors in the United States. The text will definitely help students acquire a nuanced and deep understanding of women and politics.

Women and Politics delivers the best and most comprehensive text on women's access to and participation in the political process in the United States. It's sweeping in its breadth, covering historical as well as contemporary examples, from local school board and city council politics to the presidency and the Supreme Court, and with illustrations of conservative and progressive women, both Republican and Democrat. It uses theory to explore contradictions and anecdotes to make the controversies come alive. This is the perfect text for a gender and politics course.

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