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Why Don't Women Rule the World?
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Why Don't Women Rule the World?
Understanding Women's Civic and Political Choices

First Edition


July 2019 | 536 pages | CQ Press

“[Why Don’t Women Rule the World?] is unlike other texts in its comparative approach and strong theoretical underpinnings. It has interesting pedagogical features that will resonate with comparative scholars, Americanists and those who integrate public policy analysis into the course.”
—Rebecca E. Deen, University of Texas at Arlington  

Why don’t women have more influence over the way the world is structured?  

Written by four leaders within the national and international academic caucuses on women and politics, Why Don't Women Rule the World? helps students to understand how the underrepresentation of women manifests within politics, and the impact this has on policy. Grounded in theory with practical, job-related activities, the book offers a thorough introduction to the study of women and politics, and will bolster students’ political interests, ambitions, and efficacy.  

Key Features: 

  • A comparative perspective expands students’ awareness of their own intersectional identities and the varying effects of patriarchy on women worldwide.  
  • A variety of policy areas highlighted throughout the book illustrates how different theories are applied to real-world situations.            
  • Multiple political engagement activities keep students engaged with the content.

 
Preface
 
Acknowledgements
 
About the Authors
 
CHAPTER 1 • Why Don’t Women Rule the World?
The Creation of Patriarchy

 
Reification and the Social Construction of Reality

 
Conclusion

 
Plan of the Book

 
Review Questions

 
Ambition Activities

 
Key Words

 
References

 
 
CHAPTER 2 • History of Women in Politics
Colonial History

 
The First Wave

 
The Second Wave

 
The Third Wave

 
Conclusion

 
Review Questions

 
Ambition Activities

 
Key Words

 
References

 
 
CHAPTER 3 • Public Opinion
How Individuals Form Opinions About Gender Issues

 
How Sex Influences Public Opinion

 
Partisan Preferences and Voting Behavior

 
Conclusion

 
Review Questions

 
Ambition Activities

 
Key Words

 
References

 
 
CHAPTER 4 • Political Ambition
Promoting Women’s Access and Ambition

 
Gender Socialization and Political Ambition

 
Traditional Family Role Orientations

 
The Masculinized Ethos of Politics

 
Women’s Gendered Psyche

 
Conclusion

 
Review Questions

 
Ambition Activities

 
Key Words

 
References

 
 
CHAPTER 5 • When Women Run
When and Where Women Candidates Emerge

 
Campaign Finance

 
Women as Candidates in 2018

 
Dismantling the Masculine Ethos of Politics in 2018 and Beyond

 
Conclusion

 
Review Questions

 
Ambition Activities

 
Key Words

 
References

 
 
CHAPTER 6 • Women in Legislatures
Women’s Representation in Legislatures Around the World

 
Theories of Representation

 
The Effect of Women’s Representation in Legislative Bodies

 
The Behavior of Individual Women Legislators

 
Women as Institutional Leaders

 
Effects Outside the Institution

 
How to Increase the Number of Women in Legislative Office

 
Conclusion

 
Review Questions

 
Ambition Activities

 
Key Words

 
References

 
 
CHAPTER 7 • Women in the Executive
Patriarchy, Military Masculinity, and Executive Stereotypes

 
Gender Stereotypes in Leadership and the Presidency: Public Support and Media

 
Descriptive Representation in Parts of the Executive

 
Women in Cabinets: The United States and in Comparative Perspective

 
Women’s Policy Agencies

 
Women in State and Local Institutions

 
Substantive and Symbolic Representation in Executive Institutions

 
Conclusion

 
Review Questions

 
Ambition Activities

 
Key Words

 
References

 
 
CHAPTER 8 • Women in the Judiciary
Women as Lawyers and in Law School

 
Women as Public Legal Officials

 
The Impact of Women in the Judicial Branch

 
The Effect of the Courts on Women’s Lives

 
Increasing the Representation of Women in the Judicial Branch

 
Conclusion

 
Review Questions

 
Ambition Activities

 
Key Words

 
References

 
 
CHAPTER 9 • Women in Social Movements
Interest Groups, Social Movements, and Social Movement Organizations

 
Challenges for Women’s and Feminist Movements

 
Conclusion: Intersectional Resistance in the Post-Trump Era

 
Review Questions

 
Ambition Activities

 
Key Words

 
References

 
 
CHAPTER 10 • Conclusion
The First Step: Admit That Patriarchy Exists

 
The Second Step: Listen to Women’s Complaints and Take Their Anger Seriously

 
The Third Step: Understand the Roots of Women’s Anger

 
The Fourth Step: Monitor Progress and Backlash to Establish Priorities

 
The Fifth Step: Decide What to Do and Act

 
Review Questions

 
Ambition Activity

 
Key Words

 
References

 
 
Appendices
Appendix 1: Conducting Interviews

 
Appendix 2: Comparison

 
 
Index

“[Why Don’t Women Rule the World?] is unlike other texts in its comparative approach and strong theoretical underpinnings. It has interesting pedagogical features that will resonate with comparative scholars, Americanists and those who integrate public policy analysis into the course.”

Rebecca E. Deen
University of Texas at Arlington

The text focuses on American women but includes numerous international comparative examples and profiles...The authors do valuable work in systematically unpacking arguments for why women are underrepresented in public life and assessing what social science research reveals about relevant issues, such as voter response to female candidates, the power of incumbency, and the media bias.

C.E. Rymph
University of Missouri

Excellent substance and a solid approach to the topic.

Dr Laura Bell
History/Political Science/Criminal Justice, West Texas A&m University
November 30, 2021
Key features

KEY FEATURES:  

  • A comparative perspective expands students’ awareness of their own intersectional identities and the varying effects of patriarchy on women worldwide.  
  • A variety of policy areas highlighted throughout the book illustrates how different theories are applied to real-world situations.   
  • Multiple political engagement activities keep students engaged with the content.

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