It is proven that from 1977 to now that the representation of women in politics has grown increasingly, but not at a fast-steady rate. The main reason women are underrepresented in electoral offices is because there are not a lot of women candidates on the ballot. Women are discouraged from running for these positions due to reasons such as not being able to win the election or not having a female role model to follow in the footsteps of.
For women candidates and voters, there is a strong sense that they will not be able to win the election based on their gender. One study conducted showed that “two-thirds of voters believed that women have a tougher time winning elections than men do”. In some cases, women underestimate their credentials …show more content…
Some women get involved with politics because of the widow tradition. The widow tradition is when a women’s path to an electoral office is paved by a male’s relative involvedness. It can be said that “Young women are more inclined to get involved in politics if they believe they will be able to accomplish their goals and address issues they care about through political involvement”. In a study conducted by the White House Project Education Fund, it was made clear that young women are extremely “…dedicated to their communities and to solving problems within them”. Once their mission of change is complete, women tend to leave the political field instead of trying to progress forward. While on the other hand, men tend to progress forward and view themselves to be career politicians. It can be concluded that women are underrepresented due to their lack of interest in …show more content…
A 2004 study showed that even in student governments, young women were underrepresented in president and vice presidents. Another study conducted by Christina Wolbrecht and David Campbell hypothesized and was found accurate “that the presence of visible female role models makes young women more likely to express in intention to engage in political activity as adults”. When there is a lack of role models for young women, there will surely be a lack of female representatives in official offices. One problem that arises with the influences of role models, is that it is an ongoing cycle of young women needing to see visible women politicians and women politicians who can act as a role model for young women. In other countries around the world, quotas are in place to make sure that there is an equal representation of their population, including women. The underrepresentation in the United States could erupt from the lack of a quota system that would force women to become more involved in the political
For women candidates and voters, there is a strong sense that they will not be able to win the election based on their gender. One study conducted showed that “two-thirds of voters believed that women have a tougher time winning elections than men do”. In some cases, women underestimate their credentials …show more content…
Some women get involved with politics because of the widow tradition. The widow tradition is when a women’s path to an electoral office is paved by a male’s relative involvedness. It can be said that “Young women are more inclined to get involved in politics if they believe they will be able to accomplish their goals and address issues they care about through political involvement”. In a study conducted by the White House Project Education Fund, it was made clear that young women are extremely “…dedicated to their communities and to solving problems within them”. Once their mission of change is complete, women tend to leave the political field instead of trying to progress forward. While on the other hand, men tend to progress forward and view themselves to be career politicians. It can be concluded that women are underrepresented due to their lack of interest in …show more content…
A 2004 study showed that even in student governments, young women were underrepresented in president and vice presidents. Another study conducted by Christina Wolbrecht and David Campbell hypothesized and was found accurate “that the presence of visible female role models makes young women more likely to express in intention to engage in political activity as adults”. When there is a lack of role models for young women, there will surely be a lack of female representatives in official offices. One problem that arises with the influences of role models, is that it is an ongoing cycle of young women needing to see visible women politicians and women politicians who can act as a role model for young women. In other countries around the world, quotas are in place to make sure that there is an equal representation of their population, including women. The underrepresentation in the United States could erupt from the lack of a quota system that would force women to become more involved in the political