Women in Politics: Are More Women in Legislative Bodies Enough for Creating Women-Friendly Policy?

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Authors

Brown, Anna

Date of Issue

2025-04-25

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en_US

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Does having more women in legislative bodies in the United States lead to women-friendly policies? The past decade has shown increased attention to gender equality within political structures. However, the impact of this increased attention is difficult to study because the goals of representation are rarely straightforward and cohesive. While some argue that increasing women’s presence in political bodies is an important step toward reaching a representative society, others say that representation is about the ability to shape policy surrounding the issues directly affecting women. The complexities around political representation encourage more research on the role of women in U.S. legislative bodies and the impact that different states' legislative bodies have had on influencing women-friendly policy. To understand women’s role in political positions, we need to first understand the political background of women’s legislative representation, review the literature surrounding the relationship between gender and political representation, and finally, explore if more women in legislative bodies translate into policies being enacted. This research will give insight into how women’s presence might shape the outcomes of policy. By focusing on the state-level analysis of women’s representation, researchers can better understand how different legislatures prioritize women-friendly policies, highlighting the challenges and opportunities faced in advancing these policies.

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