This chapter evaluates the role of women state legislators and women's organizations in representation of women and women's culture in the United States.

This commentary examines the contributions of Emmy W. Werner's classic 1968 article to the study of women and politics and to knowledge about women in state legislatures, placing the article in the context of its time and highlighting its continuing relevance.
 

This comprehensive report provides a historical outline of Black women’s struggle for political representation. It discusses the current landscape of political leadership for Black women across the country and across levels of office, their growing political influence, and the outlook for Black women's participation in the 2016 elections. It demonstrates the need for greater engagement, recruitment, and inclusion of Black women in politics and government.

This chapter discusses the barriers and opportunities women face in seeking state legislative and statewide executive office and the differences across states in women's officeholding. It asserts that party is a key factor in understanding women's candidacies and women's representation.