The traditional paths to elected office are well documented in the discipline of political science and often they tend to imply a linear progression where actors play key roles in the development of becoming politically informed. These actors include parents, schools, and to some extent the media. But almost all of these studies have been based on the white male experience. The more gendered studies have framed their findings in terms of barriers to access, or the social aspect of family structures, roles and responsibilities of women through time and others are based on gender discrimination and bias . Regardless of the hypothesis developed by these scholars the majority of the literature is lacking the dimension of race in studies of the under representation of women and political leadership. In view that, women of color comprise only 4.5 percent of the 535 members of Congress, with similar representation in state legislatures, and even less across statewide offices one would think there would be less deficiency in the available literature on this subject. Women are not a static group, they are diversified not only by race but by class, ethnicity, sexuality, and religion to name just a few and future research must include these distinctions between women.
Therefore, what models should be developed that would persuade women of color to run for elected office?
Thanks Ms. Joanne Barmudez,
I am not speaking of any theories, but in India, participation of women in Public bodies (Parliaments, State Legislatures and in Corporations/Municipalities) is ensured by fixing seats exclusively reserved for women. You may see this in the Occasional Paper series 1/2008
Thanks,
Siddhartha Shankar Ray
I echo the need for structure noted by Dr. Bermudez in the research of women in political office. This is an area of study that could benefit from a cross-cultural, international study, and I would be very interested in partnering with others to accomplish the task. There is merit to the assurance of seats in Parliament exclusively for women. Some nations assure that a % of slots on the ballot will be held by female candidates. It appears that most successful female candidates follow the path mentioned by Dr. Bermudez and/or begin in grassroots-type campaigns and offices.
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