Frank C. Thames and Margaret S. Williams
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- March 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780814784174
- eISBN:
- 9780814784181
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- NYU Press
- DOI:
- 10.18574/nyu/9780814784174.003.0007
- Subject:
- Political Science, Comparative Politics
This concluding chapter shows that there is strong evidence of contagion on women's political representation. While there is strong evidence of contagion overall, its influence manifests itself in ...
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This concluding chapter shows that there is strong evidence of contagion on women's political representation. While there is strong evidence of contagion overall, its influence manifests itself in different ways, depending on the institution under study. The lagged percentage of women in the legislature was a significant predictor of women's political participation. Additionally, quotas had a significant influence on women's representation in the legislature. In looking at the factors that raise the probability of a female executive, it was found that the percentage of women in the legislature and the presence of a reserved-seat quota were both significantly related to the higher probability of a female executive. Finally, given that legislatures are often involved in the selection of judges, because they either select or approve judicial nominees, the connection between having more women in the legislature and the selection of more female judges is clear.Less
This concluding chapter shows that there is strong evidence of contagion on women's political representation. While there is strong evidence of contagion overall, its influence manifests itself in different ways, depending on the institution under study. The lagged percentage of women in the legislature was a significant predictor of women's political participation. Additionally, quotas had a significant influence on women's representation in the legislature. In looking at the factors that raise the probability of a female executive, it was found that the percentage of women in the legislature and the presence of a reserved-seat quota were both significantly related to the higher probability of a female executive. Finally, given that legislatures are often involved in the selection of judges, because they either select or approve judicial nominees, the connection between having more women in the legislature and the selection of more female judges is clear.
Frank C. Thames and Margaret S. Williams
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- March 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780814784174
- eISBN:
- 9780814784181
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- NYU Press
- DOI:
- 10.18574/nyu/9780814784174.001.0001
- Subject:
- Political Science, Comparative Politics
Women's participation in parliaments, high courts, and executive offices worldwide has reached record high numbers, but this global increase in women's representation masks significant variation ...
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Women's participation in parliaments, high courts, and executive offices worldwide has reached record high numbers, but this global increase in women's representation masks significant variation among different democratic political systems. For example, in December of 2009, Rwanda's legislature contained 56 percent women, while the U.S. Congress contained only about 17 percent and the Japanese Diet had only 11 percent. Since 2000, only twenty-seven women have achieved executive office worldwide. This book takes a comprehensive look at women's participation in all aspects of public life in the main democratic political institutions—the executive, the judiciary, the legislature, and within political parties. Moving beyond studies of single countries and institutions, the book presents original data from 159 democratic countries spanning fifty years, providing a comprehensive understanding of women in democracies worldwide. The first book to offer an analysis on all avenues for women's participation for such a lengthy time period, it examines not only the causes of women's representation in the main democratic political institutions but also how women's representation in one institution affects the others. Each chapter contains case studies and examples of the change in women's participation over time from around the world. The book definitively explains the rise, decline, or stagnant levels of women's political participation, considering how representation is contagious across political institutions and gaining a better understanding of what factors affect women's political participation.Less
Women's participation in parliaments, high courts, and executive offices worldwide has reached record high numbers, but this global increase in women's representation masks significant variation among different democratic political systems. For example, in December of 2009, Rwanda's legislature contained 56 percent women, while the U.S. Congress contained only about 17 percent and the Japanese Diet had only 11 percent. Since 2000, only twenty-seven women have achieved executive office worldwide. This book takes a comprehensive look at women's participation in all aspects of public life in the main democratic political institutions—the executive, the judiciary, the legislature, and within political parties. Moving beyond studies of single countries and institutions, the book presents original data from 159 democratic countries spanning fifty years, providing a comprehensive understanding of women in democracies worldwide. The first book to offer an analysis on all avenues for women's participation for such a lengthy time period, it examines not only the causes of women's representation in the main democratic political institutions but also how women's representation in one institution affects the others. Each chapter contains case studies and examples of the change in women's participation over time from around the world. The book definitively explains the rise, decline, or stagnant levels of women's political participation, considering how representation is contagious across political institutions and gaining a better understanding of what factors affect women's political participation.
Frank C. Thames and Margaret S. Williams
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- March 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780814784174
- eISBN:
- 9780814784181
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- NYU Press
- DOI:
- 10.18574/nyu/9780814784174.003.0001
- Subject:
- Political Science, Comparative Politics
This introductory chapter notes the variation in women's paths to participation in public institutions, where that path is open, where it is not, and what accounts for the differences in women's ...
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This introductory chapter notes the variation in women's paths to participation in public institutions, where that path is open, where it is not, and what accounts for the differences in women's access. It analyzes the representation of women in political institutions in the years 1945–2006, considering the factors that might affect representation within a single institution while also accounting for the contagion effect, or how the representation in one institution may influence another. The political institutions considered include legislatures, cabinets, courts, and quota laws. By looking cross-nationally, cross-institutionally, and across time, this study aims to gain a more complete perspective on women's representation. Moreover, it offers a lot of opportunities for generalization, especially as countries consider alternate constitutional arrangements.Less
This introductory chapter notes the variation in women's paths to participation in public institutions, where that path is open, where it is not, and what accounts for the differences in women's access. It analyzes the representation of women in political institutions in the years 1945–2006, considering the factors that might affect representation within a single institution while also accounting for the contagion effect, or how the representation in one institution may influence another. The political institutions considered include legislatures, cabinets, courts, and quota laws. By looking cross-nationally, cross-institutionally, and across time, this study aims to gain a more complete perspective on women's representation. Moreover, it offers a lot of opportunities for generalization, especially as countries consider alternate constitutional arrangements.
Deondra Rose
- Published in print:
- 2018
- Published Online:
- January 2018
- ISBN:
- 9780190650940
- eISBN:
- 9780190867300
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780190650940.003.0001
- Subject:
- Political Science, American Politics
Chapter 1 considers the role that federal higher education policies have played in the progress that American women have made since the mid-twentieth century. The conventional wisdom suggests that ...
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Chapter 1 considers the role that federal higher education policies have played in the progress that American women have made since the mid-twentieth century. The conventional wisdom suggests that the 1970s—with the emergence of the women’s rights movement and fervent activism by feminist organizations—marked the crucial turning point for gender equality in the United States. Evidence suggests, however, that landmark US higher education policies enacted during the mid-twentieth century have played an important role in the promotion of women to first-class citizenship. Passed prior to and apart from the feminist movement, these programs made it possible for women to gain knowledge and skills that are valued in the labor market and also promote political engagement. Through redistributive and regulatory higher education policies, US lawmakers promoted equal opportunity for women.Less
Chapter 1 considers the role that federal higher education policies have played in the progress that American women have made since the mid-twentieth century. The conventional wisdom suggests that the 1970s—with the emergence of the women’s rights movement and fervent activism by feminist organizations—marked the crucial turning point for gender equality in the United States. Evidence suggests, however, that landmark US higher education policies enacted during the mid-twentieth century have played an important role in the promotion of women to first-class citizenship. Passed prior to and apart from the feminist movement, these programs made it possible for women to gain knowledge and skills that are valued in the labor market and also promote political engagement. Through redistributive and regulatory higher education policies, US lawmakers promoted equal opportunity for women.
Lee Ann Banaszak and Holly J. McCammon
- Published in print:
- 2018
- Published Online:
- February 2018
- ISBN:
- 9780190265144
- eISBN:
- 9780190265175
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780190265144.003.0016
- Subject:
- Political Science, American Politics, Democratization
The epilogue discusses the volume’s central themes in light of events around the 2016 presidential election. This chapter considers growth in gender equality over the last one hundred years as well ...
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The epilogue discusses the volume’s central themes in light of events around the 2016 presidential election. This chapter considers growth in gender equality over the last one hundred years as well as continuing aspects of gender inequality. It examines the degree to which women’s influence has changed over time, particularly their increased presence in politics as well as ongoing efforts to marginalize their roles. The final chapter examines this influence in electoral politics as well as social movement activism, also exploring the ways in which politics continues to be a deeply gendered sphere of action. This epilogue returns to the rich diversity of women’s engagement in political action, reminding readers of the significant insights that can emerge from an intersectional approach to understanding women’s political action. The book concludes with thoughts, which must be speculative at best, of what may lie ahead for the next hundred years of women’s enfranchisement.Less
The epilogue discusses the volume’s central themes in light of events around the 2016 presidential election. This chapter considers growth in gender equality over the last one hundred years as well as continuing aspects of gender inequality. It examines the degree to which women’s influence has changed over time, particularly their increased presence in politics as well as ongoing efforts to marginalize their roles. The final chapter examines this influence in electoral politics as well as social movement activism, also exploring the ways in which politics continues to be a deeply gendered sphere of action. This epilogue returns to the rich diversity of women’s engagement in political action, reminding readers of the significant insights that can emerge from an intersectional approach to understanding women’s political action. The book concludes with thoughts, which must be speculative at best, of what may lie ahead for the next hundred years of women’s enfranchisement.
