Getting There: Women in Political Office

In: The annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Band 515, S. 63-76

Abstract

Since the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment, women's representation in public offices has grown, although women are still greatly underrepresented in most states & in the national government. The number of women in Congress currently is the highest ever. Women constitute 18% of the state legislatures, 17% of state executives, 9% of county governing boards, & 14% of mayors & city councils. The proportion of women in Congress is about 50% the average for national legislative bodies throughout the world. It is suggested that women's underrepresentation in politics can be explained by political culture, socialization, role conflict, discrimination, & the political structure itself. Current trends, however, are favorable to the continued gradual increase in the number of women in public office. 3 Tables. Adapted from the source document.