Introduction to Women in Politics

Transcription

1 Introduction to Women in Politics Jaclyn J. Kettler Boise State University NEW Leadership Idaho May 22,

2 Outline Political Participation of Women Representation of Women Barriers Facing Women in Politics Impact of Women in Politics 2018 Election 2

3 Women and the Vote Women s suffrage gained strength in 1840s Idaho women granted the vote in th Amendment (1920) 3

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5 Political Participation of Women % 37.5mil. 69.8% 38.0mil. Women Men Percent % 39.2mil. 66.0% 41.0mil. 64.1% 40.9mil. 62.0% 44.9mil. 59.6% 41.1mil. 58.8% 45.6mil. 59.4% 49.3mil. 59.1% 43.8mil. 60.8% 54.5mil. 59.0% 47.4mil. 58.3% 54.5mil. 56.4% 47.7mil. 62.3% 60.6mil. 60.2% 53.3mil. 55.5% 56.1mil. 52.8% 48.9mil. 56.2% 59.3mil. 53.1% 51.5mil. 60.1% 67.3mil. 56.3% 58.5mil. 60.4% 70.4mil. 55.7% 60.7mil Source: CAWP 5

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7 2016 Campaign Donations by Gender OpenSecrets.org

8 Women in Government 8

9 Women in Government Disparities continue to persist at all levels of government in the US Year of the Woman: 1992 Large increase in 1992, but smaller increases since Women in office tend to be: older, have grown children, and be Democrats 9

10 Women Running for President 1872: First woman candidate for president - Victoria Woodhull 1972: First black woman to seek major party - nomination: Shirley Chisholm 1984: First female vice presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro 2008: Hillary Clinton 2012: Jill Stein Green Party candidate 2016: Hillary Clinton and Carly Fiorina 10

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13 Reflective Democracy Campaign 2014

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15 Current Women in State Legislatures Women hold 1,875 (25.4%) of the 7,383 state legislative seats 447 (22.7%) state senate seats 1,428 (26.4%) state house seats Party Breakdown: 1,142 (60.9%) Democrats 706 (37.7%) Republicans Women of Color: 449 (24% of women) women of color in state legs. 15

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17 Women in Other Offices 70 women (27 D, 42 R, 1NP) hold statewide elective offices 22.4% of available positions 52 women have served in cabinet-level appointments 5 women in the Trump Cabinet 3 women currently on the Supreme Court 21.6% of mayors in cities with a population over 30k 17

18 Women in Idaho Politics 2 women have served in Idaho s congressional delegation Rep. Gracie Bowers Pfost, Democrat ( ) Rep. Helen Chenoweth, Republican ( ) ID ranks 13 th for percentage of women in the state legislature (30.5%) 34.4% Democrats, 65.6% Republicans 3 cities with women mayors 2 women currently serving in elected, statewide positions 18

19 Women in Politics Internationally The United States ranks 102 nd on the world rankings of women in government (Inter-Parliamentary Union) Top Rankings: (1) Rwanda, (2) Cuba, (3) Bolivia, (4) Grenada, (5) Namibia, (6) Nicaragua Women hold 23.8% of legislative seats worldwide 19

20 Barriers Facing Women in Government 20

21 Barriers to Women in Government Women are as likely to win elections as men However, women are not as likely to be candidates 21

22 Barriers Facing Women Seeking Office Gender Roles Ambition Occupation Motherhood Motivation/Decision 22

23 Barriers Facing Women Seeking Office Gender Roles Gender Stereotypes & Biases Public Media 23

24 Barriers Facing Women Seeking Office Gender Roles Gender Stereotypes Gendered Institutions Incumbency Gatekeepers Role models 24

25 Barriers Facing Women Seeking Office Gender Roles Gender Stereotypes Gendered Institutions Elections 25

26 Impact of Women in Politics 26

27 Symbolic Representation Seeing women in politics may increase political interest among women & girls Descriptive representation can mobilize women to run for office 27

28 Women in Office Women officeholders of both parties are more likely to advance women s issues Women legislators are often more involved in constituent casework Women legislators often have a higher success rate at passing legislation Also secure more funding for their district 28

29 Legislative Leadership Styles Women tend to emphasize collegiately and collaboration Women legislators also tend to include more people in the policymaking process 29

30 Women in Government: Policy Impact Women in Congress have played key roles in enacting laws for women: Title IX Equal Credit Opportunity Act Family and Medical Leave Act Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 Women key to ending 2013 government shutdown 30

31 Addressing Barriers Facing Women in Politics 31

32 Addressing These Barriers: Structural Groups recruiting, training, and supporting diverse candidates Institutional & electoral reforms Social change 32

33 Addressing These Barriers: Candidates Encourage women to seek leadership positions Consider range of opportunities Utilize networks Ask broadly for support 33

34 2018 Midterm Elections 34

35 2018 Midterm Elections Large increase in the number of women running for elected office Still far below men Increases mainly in Democratic Party 35

36 CAWP

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38 2018 Midterm Elections If election is a good year for Democrats, likely to have a more diverse set of officeholders But many women running in 2018 will ultimately lose May have spillover benefits in the future 38

39 Final Thoughts 39

40 Women and Politics Women have made great strides in politics But still constitute less than ¼ of all officeholders in most levels of government Need women leaders because they bring different perspectives Lots of opportunities 40

41 QUESTIONS? 41

42 Resources Center for American Women in Politics: Gender Watch 2018: Political Parity: Why women don t run for office : 017/women-rule-politics-graphic/ 42