1. Presentation by Dr. Kevin Lasher

2. Gender and Political Participation

3. Gender and Turnout Female turnout lagged behind male turnout for decades after 1920 Concept of politics as a “man’s world” did not end immediately Husbands did not want their wives voting 10-20% gap in turnout through 1950s

4. Gender and Turnout: Why Change? 1920 was distant past Women’s movement, feminism, working women, evolution or women’s role in American Women and higher education (56% of college students)

5. Other Forms of Political Participation

16. Conclusion Women have caught up to and surpassed men in turnout Men have very slight advantage in certain “other” forms of participation Unlikely to change (except move toward total “participation equality”)

18. What about Running for Office? Congress Local Government State Government

19. Female Candidates Win just as frequently as male candidates Raise as much money as male candidates Generally accepted by American electorate “When women run, women win” (they have the same advantages/disadvantages as male candidates) --- Kathleen Dolan Voting for Women, 2008

20. Female Candidates Women are less likely than men to consider running for office Women are less likely than men to run for elective office Women are less likely than men to be interested in running for office --- Jennifer Lawless and Richard Fox, It Takes a Candidate: Why Women Don’t Run for Office, 2005

21. Female Candidates: Why Fewer? Women are less likely to be socialized to think about politics as a vocation Women bear greater responsibility for family and children Women are less likely to be encouraged to think about running for office by colleagues, friends, etc.

22. Female Candidates: Why Fewer? Both women and men perceive electoral bias against women Women are less likely to be recruited to run by parties and interest groups Women possess several psychological attitudes that lead them away from running for office (less “political ambition”) --- Jennifer Lawless and Richard Fox, It Takes a Candidate: Why Women Don’t Run for Office, 2005