The political consequences of being a woman

the long version

In America today, women hold only 6% of U.S. senate seats and state governorships. What accounts for women's lack of success in winning statewide office? When might a campaign slogan like "a mom in tennis shoes" meet with victory, and when might it fail? Does a woman who speaks intelligently and forcefully about nuclear proliferation in the Middle East stand a chance of winning a major political race? Drawing on a wide sample of campaign advertisements, mass media coverage, voter surveys, and election results, Kim Kahn investigated the reasons why women are so poorly represented in the highest strata of political power in America. Focusing on the cycle of influence among campaign tactics, media representation, and voter opinion in senate and gubernatorial races, The Political Consequences of Being a Woman explores how women's perceived liabilities and capabilities make or, more often, break their campaigns. Women candidates, Kahn discovers, not only experience stereotyping by journalists and, in turn, by voters, but actually prepare for it, choosing to emphasize themes that are consistent with the public's expectations. Many female candidates may believe that fulfillment of their constituency's preconceptions is the surest path to victory. Kahn's incisive new study presents real evidence that such reinforcement of gender stereotypes prevents women from attaining equal access to the corridors of power in American politics - and provides valuable lessons for women trying to break through the glass ceiling.