Politicking While Female: The Political Life of Women

More women ran for political office in the 2018 mid-term elections than at any other time in history. Indeed, record numbers of women were vying for seats on a variety of legislative bodies such as school boards, city councils, state legislatures, and congress as well as executive offices such as gubernatorial and mayoral seats. The 2018 mid-term elections drastically altered women’s political representation. The Spring 2019 Breaux Symposium will trace the barriers facing women in political leadership starting from the socialization of young children through the experiences women face winning and serving in elected office. Young girls are discouraged from thinking of themselves as leaders and these socialization processes turn women away from considering political careers. We will talk about the forces that motivate women to run for political office in spite of these negative socialization processes. We will also trace the gendered obstacles facing women, including women of color, pursuing political power including the role of voter and media bias. Finally, we highlight the benefits accrued from electing more women to positions of political power, and identify strategies designed to overcome these obstacles.

About the Breaux Symposium

The annual John Breaux Symposium pushes the boundaries of debate around an aspect of media, politics and public policy. The Symposium aims to harness the expertise and perspectives of individuals hailing from a variety of fields and backgrounds. Past Symposia have hosted scholars, journalists, corporate executives, and political and civic leaders. Through keynote speakers, panels and presentations, the intent of the Symposium is to discuss the public’s knowledge about some aspect of our democracy and identify possible actions to increase public awareness and constructive debate.