- Option 1: Political scientists disagree on the exact causes of low representation of women in Congress. Why do you think there are so few women in Congress in comparison to men? How likely is it that these patterns of representation will dramatically change over your lifetime? For this discussion question, you will have to do some research online.
There are less women in Congress, compared to men, due to the history. The history was once very male dominated but with new opportunities and new doors being opened to females, it has now given the females a roadway to gain success within Congress. There are still hurdles to overcome but in the light, there are many strong political women becoming known and bringing attention. I feel that over time this pattern of male dominance will continue to change. I see women becoming more involved. In Miami, Congresswoman Luz Elena Morales became the first women to preside over the Board of Governors (Women In Congress, 2023). The vent that was held was to recognize women and the struggle of women in important roles of decision making and public space (Women In Congress, 2023). The 116th Congress’s female members are the most numerous and diverse group of women to hold elected office in history, having participated in a record number of runoffs for Congress in 2018 and winning a record number of them (Elder, 2020). Compared to Republican women, Democratic women’s presence and advancement in Congress have been noticeably different. For example, Democratic women have seen consistent increases nearly every election year. As of right now, 38% of Congressional Democrats are female, and they are clearly headed toward, if not surpassing, parity in their party’s caucus (Elder, 2020). The percentage of women of color in Congress has increased more quickly than that of non-Hispanic white women (Elder, 2020). There is no way for women to achieve gender equality in elective office and proportional representation without increasing the number of women in both the Democratic and Republican parties. However, the partisan divide among women in Congress is a far greater divide that may have far more profound effects on our democracy (Elder, 2020).
References:
Elder, L. (2020). The Growing Partisan Gap among Women in Congress. Society, 57(5), 520526.
Women in Congress. (2023, Oct 30). CE Noticias Financieras
