Women's participation in the United States is shaped by the changing landscape of the country's cultural history.
Through an exploration of the political socialization of women, the authors give students a powerful way to understand
the gender gap in political attitudes, patterns of women's political participation, and women as members of the
political elite.
For this new second edition the authors have updated every chapter with new content and data. Greater coverage
of the interaction of gender, race, class, ethnicity, and age is integrated throughout and alongside additional
material on feminism, Title IX, origins of the gender gap, and more on agents of socialization.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1. Women, Culture, and Political Participation
Women's Status in a Liberal Culture
Women and Cultural Change
Women's Political Participation: Colonial Times to 1920
CHAPTER 2. Women, Culture, and Political Socialization
Cultural Change and Gender Role Expectations
Gender Role Expectations and Political Socialization
Cultural Change and the Agents of Socialization
It's a Man's World, but Times Are Changing
CHAPTER 3. Gender Differences in Political Attitudes, Beliefs, and Policy Preferences
Explaining Gender Differences in Political
Orientation
Gender Differences in Political Preferences
CHAPTER 4. Differences among Women: Does Group Identification Explain Political Orientation?
Patterns of Group Consciousness
Relationship Between Feminist Orientation and Political Attitudes and Policy Preferences
Assessing the Political Implications of Differences in Policy Preferences
CHAPTER 5. Women's Political Participation
Patterns of Political Participation
Explanations for Patterns of Political Participation
CHAPTER 6. Opening the Doors to Political Power: Women as Members of the Political Elite
Women, Power, and the Political Culture
Women's Political Participation: A Closer Look
Women as Officeholders
Conclusion
CHAPTER 7. Women, Politics, and Cultural Change
From The Past to The Present
The Outlook for Women: Positive Signs, Negative Portents
