Gender and Race/Ethnicity Research

  • Why Not a Woman of Color?: The Candidacies of US Women of Color for Statewide Executive Office

    by Kira Sanbonmatsu
    Oxford University Press (September 2015) 

    This review essay focuses on the intersection of gender and race in statewide executive officeholding. The author argues that scholarly neglect of this topic risks naturalizing the dearth of women of color in statewide executive positions, sending the message that it is understandable that women lack access to those offices and/or that such offices aren’t realistically obtainable. Using data from the Center for American Women and Politics, the author examines the status of women of color in statewide offices and state and party patterns in their presence as candidates and officeholders. Directions for future research are suggested. 

    Article
    Research
    CAWP Scholar
    Candidates and Campaigns
    Candidate Recruitment
    Gender and Race/Ethnicity
    Statewide Executive
  • Electing Women of Color: The Role of Campaign Trainings

    by Kira Sanbonmatsu
    Journal of Women, Politics, & Policy (May 2015)  

    The increasing racial diversity of women in the United States makes the underrepresentation of women of color in politics an important area for research. To better understand the reasons for the underrepresentation of women of color and how more women of color might be elected in the future, this article presents a case study of a unique campaign training program designed for women of color. The program is the Center for American Women and Politics’ (CAWP) New Jersey Ready to Run® Diversity Initiative. Campaign trainings have proliferated in recent years and seem to play a disproportionate role in women’s election to office. By examining

    Article
    Research
    CAWP Scholar
    Candidates and Campaigns
    Gender and Race/Ethnicity
  • The Status of Black Women in American Politics 2014

    By the Center for American Women and Politics for Higher Heights Leadership Fund, 2014
    Authored by Kelly Dittmar, Ph.D, Assistant Research Professor, Center for American Women and Politics, Rutgers University

    This comprehensive report provides a historical outline of black women’s struggle for political representation and discusses the current landscape of political leadership for black women across the country as well as their growing political influence. It demonstrates the need for greater engagement, recruitment, and inclusion of black women in politics and government.

    Report
    Research
    Gender and Race/Ethnicity
    State Legislature
    Local
    Statewide Executive
    Congress
  • The Candidacies of U.S. Women of Color for Statewide Executive Office

    by Kira Sanbonmatsu
    Paper presented at the American Political Science Association annual meeting, Chicago, IL

    Drawing on insights from gender, race, and intersectionality research, Sanbonmatsu examines the status of women of color and analyzes the role of parties in shaping their candidacies for statewide elective executive office. While women of color have made important inroads with respect to statewide officeholding, they remain underrepresented as candidates and officeholders in both parties.
     

    Conference Paper
    Research
    CAWP Scholar
    Gender and Race/Ethnicity
    Statewide Executive
  • Gender and Elections: Shaping the Future of American Politics, 2nd Edition

    Eds. Susan J. Carroll, CAWP, Rutgers University and Richard L. Fox, Union College, New York
    Cambridge University Press, 2009 Second Edition, 314 pages 

    The 2nd edition of this textbook describes the role of gender in the American electoral process through the 2008 elections. Tailored for courses on women and politics, elections, and gender politics, it strikes a balance between highlighting the most important developments for women as voters and candidates in the 2008 elections and providing a deeper analysis of the ways that gender has helped shape electoral politics in the United States.  Individual chapters demonstrate the importance of gender in understanding presidential elections, voter participation and turnout, voting choices, the participation of African American women

    Book
    Research
    CAWP Scholar
    Political Parties
    Candidates and Campaigns
    Gender and Race/Ethnicity
    Women Voters and the Gender Gap
    State Legislature
    Statewide Executive
    Congress
    Federal Executive
  • Gender and Elections: Shaping the Future of American Politics, 1st Edition

    Eds. Susan J. Carroll, CAWP, Rutgers University and Richard L. Fox, Union College, New York
    Cambridge University Press, 2005 First Edition, 240 pages 

    Gender and Elections offers a systematic, lively, multi-faceted account of the role of gender in the electoral process through the 2004 elections. This volume strikes a balance between highlighting the most important developments for women as voters and candidates in the 2004 elections and providing a more long-term, in-depth analysis of the ways that gender has helped shape the contours and outcomes of electoral politics in the United States. Individual chapters demonstrate the importance of gender in understanding and interpreting presidential elections, voter participation and turnout, voting choices, congressional elections, the

    Book
    Research
    CAWP Scholar
    Political Parties
    Candidates and Campaigns
    Gender and Race/Ethnicity
    Women Voters and the Gender Gap
    State Legislature
    Statewide Executive
    Congress
    Federal Executive
  • Increasing Diversity or More of the Same? Term Limits and the Representation of Women, Minorities, and Minority Women in State Legislatures

    by Susan J. Carroll and Krista Jenkins 
    National Political Science Review 10 (2005): 71-84

    This paper examines the question of whether term limits lead to greater diversity among legislators in terms of their gender, race, and ethnicity. Their findings from an analysis of electoral outcomes in states where term limits were in effect in 1998 and 2000 suggest that the answer to the question of whether term limits lead to more diverse legislatures is not straightforward.

    Article
    Research
    CAWP Scholar
    Gender and Race/Ethnicity
    Women and Term Limits
    State Legislature
  • Women and American Politics: New Questions, New Directions

    Edited by Susan J. Carroll 
    Oxford University Press, 2003, 262 pages

    This volume presents a research agenda, developed by leading scholars of American politics, suggesting directions that could fruitfully shape the study of women and American politics in the early twenty-first century. Contributors suggest approaches, methods, and topics for future research on political recruitment, campaign strategy, money, political leadership, parties and women's organizations, the gender gap in voting and public opinion, media, women of color, and participation outside of conventional electoral politics.

    Book
    Research
    CAWP Scholar
    Political Parties
    Civic and Political Activism
    Candidates and Campaigns
    Candidate Recruitment
    Gender and Race/Ethnicity
    Women Voters and the Gender Gap
  • Women's Evolving Role in Tribal Politics: Native Women Leaders in 21 Southwestern Indian Nations

    by Diane-Michele Prindeville
    2002, 36 pages

    Funding for this project was provided by a grant from the Center for American Women and Politics, Rutgers University.  Prindeville's study explores the role of Southwestern Native American women leaders in tribal politics, and their right to participate equally with men in their nations’ governance.  

    Report
    Research
    Gender and Race/Ethnicity
  • Women, Black, and Hispanic State Elected Leaders: The 1990 Symposium on the State of the States

    Eagleton Institute of Politics, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey 
    Center for Public Service, University of Virginia
    1991, 106 pages

    In December 1990, more than sixty statewide officials, state legislators, other practitioners and scholars gathered for the fourth annual State of the States symposium. The symposium focused on the problems and possibilities that exist for women, Black and Hispanic elected officials. Issues discussed included campaigning and elections, changing political institutions, shaping state policy, and achieving leadership positions. Workshop summaries and participating scholars' papers are included in the report. 

    Report
    Research
    CAWP Scholar
    Candidates and Campaigns
    Gender and Race/Ethnicity
    Impact of Women Public Officials
    State Legislature
    Statewide Executive