Gender and Politics

Thoughts on the Future of Political Science

by Michael A. Smith, Professor of Political Science, Emporia State University Well, #MPSA2022 is in the books. From my perspective, the first in-person MPSA conference since 2019 was a success. As I noted in my previous blog post, the political science conference is likely to see permanent changes…


Spain's majority-female cabinet embodies women's global rise to power

By Susan Franceschet, University of Calgary and Karen Beckwith, Case Western Reserve University Gender-equal governments, which include the same number of men and women as ministry heads and in other cabinet posts, used to be the purview of woman-friendly Nordic countries and highly progressive…


All Male Panels Erode Citizens' Perceptions of Democratic Legitimacy

By Amanda Clayton, Diana Z. O'Brien, and Jennifer M. Piscopo All-male panels increasingly face public pushback. Though once ubiquitous, male-only groups are encountering greater scrutiny at conferences, in workplaces, and especially in politics. In the United States, for example, a photo showing a…


(The Lack of) Diversity in Trump's America

By Adaobi Duru, University of Louisiana at Monroe The lack of diversity in Trump's cabinet appointment is significant and might be a reflection of the President's position on issues regarding racial and gender equality in government. The President's cabinet is made up of 18 men and four women. In…


Bias and Women’s Under-Representation in Politics

Even if Hillary Clinton shatters the “highest” glass ceiling this November, for many years to come women are likely to remain under-represented in elected offices in the United States and throughout most of the world’s democracies. If bias on the part of party leaders or voters explains some of…


Tough Enough? National Security Issues Could Affect the 2016 U.S. Presidential Race

NEW YORK CITY - MARCH 2, 2016: Hillary Rodham Clinton affirmed her status as front-runner for the Democratic presidential nominations with a speech at Jacob Javits Center. Following the November 2015 Paris and Beirut terrorist attacks, and the more recent bombings in Brussels and Pakistan,…