Chapter 1 of 5
Read MoreRethinking Political Power
To maximize women’s political voices and influence in their full diversity, it is necessary to rethink our definition and measures of political power.
Read MoreIncreasing women’s political power is a multi-site, multiracial, and bipartisan endeavor.
Changes in women’s political representation and power occur within state political ecosystems, providing fertile ground for in-depth investigation into the complexities of place, race/ethnicity, and partisanship.
This report draws upon interviews with 192 political actors within five states – Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania – to examine both the state of and change in women’s political power from 2010 to 2023. State-focused investigation allows us to better analyze the gender and intersectional dynamics at play within state political ecosystems, which we define as the interconnected systems, networks of individuals and organizations, and overall environments in which both formal and informal politics occurs. We conducted interviews between November 2021 and June 2023. Interview subject attributions throughout this report are specific to the primary roles for which we interviewed them for this project. See our methodology for more details on interview subjects and questions.
Each of the chapters of this report reflects a key finding from our interviews. These findings are not mutually exclusive, as is evident in sites of overlap and cross-reference across chapters. The complexity within each finding – including differences across states, party, race/ethnicity, and time – is detailed in each chapter, using direct quotations from our interview subjects to illustrate important points specific to that finding and perceptions common across multiple interviews. See our state voices section for a searchable database of interview quotations – including quotations not already in the report text providing further evidence of stated findings – that is filterable by interview subject characteristics and report chapter.
Key Findings
The chapters below offer detailed findings on the state of and recent changes in women’s political power, with particular attention to state, racial/ethnic, and partisan differences.
Chapter 2 of 5
Read MoreProblem Definition
In order to address gender inequality within political ecosystems, women’s lack of political power must be defined as a problem in need of solution. Alternative routes to increasing women’s political power – including electoral incentives and pressure to increase demographic diversity candidates and officeholders – often fall short of full equality.
Read MoreChapter 3 of 5
Read MoreBuilding Support Infrastructure
Existing support infrastructures for women are helpful but insufficient to see gains in women’s political power across sites, groups (racial/ethnic, partisan, class), and stages of the political process.
Read MoreChapter 4 of 5
Read MoreStructural Barriers and Opportunities
Structural realities related to money, work/family responsibilities, white and male dominance, and party strength and influence offer both persistent barriers and opportunities for increasing women’s political power.
Read MoreChapter 5 of 5
Read MoreSocial/Political Barriers and Opportunities
Social/political realities resulting from cultural evolution, critical moments in U.S. politics, and the expansion of women’s political leadership have offered opportunities for women’s political empowerment, while persistent sexism, racism, and heightened toxicity both inside and outside of political institutions present distinct hurdles to women in politics.
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