WOMEN IN GEORGIA ELECTORAL POLITICS: 1970-1978

In: Studies in Soviet thought: a review, Band 21, Heft 1, S. 43-55

Abstract

THE DECADE OF THE 1970S WITNESSED INCREASED NUMBERS OF FEMALE STATE LEGISLATORS DESPITE CHANGES IN THE COMPETITION RATIO (DECREASED NUMBERS OF LEGISLATIVE SEATS AFTER REAPPORTIONMENTS AND INCREASED POPULATION), WHICH AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DECADE WAS FOUND TO BE RELATED TO THE VARYING PERCENTAGE OF STATE LEGISLATIVE SEATS HELD BY WOMEN. THIS STUDY OF GEORGIA ELECTORAL POLITICS CHARTS THE INCREASES OF WOMEN IN OFFICE IN A POLITICAL CULTURE NOT THEORETICALLY CONDUCIVE TO WOMEN'S ELECTORAL GAINS, EXAMINES THE FACTORS IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS RELATED TO INCREASED SUCCESS AMONG WOMEN SEEKING NOMINATION AND ELECTION TO THE STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND COMPARES WOMEN'S AND MEN'S CHANCES FOR ELECTORAL SUCCESS TO THE STATE HOUSE. THE SUCCESSFUL WOMEN WERE MOST LIKELY TO RUN IN CONTESTED RACES NOT INVOLVING INCUMBENTS IN URBAN DISTRICTS, THOUGH INCREASING NUMBERS OF WOMEN RAN AS INCUMBENTS BY 1978. THE SUCCESS RATES OF WOMEN, THOUGH IMPROVING, WERE STILL NOT AT PARITY WITH MEN'S SUCCESS RATES.