Representing Women: Sex, Gender, and Legislative Behavior in Arizona and California (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780807848500)

Women in public office are often assumed to "make a difference" for women, as women--in other words, to represent their female constituents better than do their male counterparts. But is sex really an accurate predictor of a legislator's political choices and actions? In this book, Beth Reingold compares the representational activities and attitudes of male and female members of the Arizona and California state legislatures to illuminate the broader implications of the election and integration of women into public office. In the process, she challenges many of the assumptions that underlie popular expectations of women and men in politics.

Using in-depth interviews, survey responses, and legislative records, Reingold actually uncovers more similarities between female and male politicians than differences. Moreover, the stories she presents strongly suggest that rather than assuming that who our representatives are determines what they will do in office, we must acknowledge the possibility that the influence of gender on legislative behavior can be weakened, distorted, or accentuated by powerful forces within the social and political contexts of elective office.

Author: Beth Reingold
ISBN-10: 0807848506
ISBN-13: 9780807848500
Publisher: University of North Carolina Press
Language: English
Published: 04/24/2000
Pages: 352
Format: Paperback
Weight: 1.18lbs
Size: 9.27h x 6.18w x 0.89d

Review Citation(s):
Choice 10/01/2000 pg. 410