The overarching issue to female representation in government lies in the lack of women running for public office. Most politically involved American women often face the inferior circumstances. There is a real disparity between male and female politicians. When women run, they win at similar rates to men. However, too often women don't believe themselves qualified to run for political office- whether for school board president or Congress. Moreover, women are less likely to be asked to run for office. Put simply, not enough women are running. In order to correct the political inequalities plaguing women in the American system, it is necessary to address the limiting factors that have kept women from gaining political access.
[...] According to Steinem, sex barrier not taken as seriously as the racial one.” While her view on the impact of gender relations on the lack of female political leadership is sound, her stance on racism is flawed. It is true that American women are seriously underrepresented. Furthermore, female leaders have to battle with stereotypes and the downfalls of being a minority in the political realm. However, black males and, to a greater extent, black women, have also faced monumental barriers in attaining a political voice in the United States. Either way, both groups continue to fight for equality in American society. [...]
[...] popular in the U.S. for centuries, and still affects women leaders. Statistics stand to prove that women are underrepresented, face greater obstacles than men, and don't run for political office as much as men do. Even today, the gender barrier prevents a proportional number of women (in relation to the American population) from attaining political office. Nevertheless, there has been improvement in the situation for women over time. In the United States, women are relative newcomers among state elected and appointed positions. [...]
[...] Women in New England (like in most of the U.S.) are not proportionally represented in their state or municipal governments. However, the issue isn't that women are inferior to men or that they don't receive votes when running for office; the real problem is that, simply put, women don't run as much as men for political office. However, with the historic election of Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House and Hillary Clinton as a strong Presidential candidate, women's political leadership is increasingly visible. [...]
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