It Takes a Candidate: Why Women Don't Run for Office [Paperback]

Jennifer L. Lawless (Author), Richard L. Fox (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 12, 2005 | ISBN-10: 052167414X | ISBN-13: 978-0521674140

This important work constitutes a systematic, nationwide empirical account of the effects of gender on political ambition. Based on data from the Citizen Political Ambition Study, a national survey of 3,800 "potential candidates" conducted by the authors, it relates these findings: --Women, even at the highest levels of professional accomplishment, are significantly less likely than men to demonstrate ambition to run for elective office. --Women are less likely than men to be recruited to run for office. --Women are less likely than men to consider themselves "qualified" to run for office. --Women are less likely than men to express a willingness to run for a future office. According to the authors, this gender gap in political ambition persists across generations, despite contemporary society's changing attitudes towards female candidates. While other treatments of gender in the electoral process focus on candidates and office holders, It Takes a Candidate makes a unique contribution to political studies by focusing on the earlier stages of the candidate emergence process and on how gender affects the decision to seek elective office.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"It Takes a Candidate offers new evidence and insight on central issues of political representation and democratic politics. Lawless and Fox have executed an important study of the root causes of why women are underrepresented among American officeholders. By investigating political ambition among individuals in feeder occupations, they advance our understanding with new theory and evidence. The book, moreover, is written in a thoroughly engaging and accessible manner and will appeal to anyone curious about patterns critical to the operation of American democracy." Walter J. Stone, University of California, Davis

Book Description

Serving as the first systematic, nationwide empirical account of the manner in which gender affects political ambition, and based on data from the Citizen Political Ambition Study, a national survey conducted on almost 3,800 potential candidates, this looks at why women are less likely than men to demonstrate political ambition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 220 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (September 12, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 052167414X
• ISBN-13: 978-0521674140
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.6 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #563,726 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Empowering March 4, 2009

By Sarah H.

Format:Paperback

This book is easy to read and explains why we won't have equal representation by gender in politics until our culture and parties change. You also don't have to read the whole thing-- there are very nice chapter summaries with all the main points. It changed the way I look at myself- for instance, why do I think I would never be qualified for public office when I am a public policy major at an Ivy League university? It was very inspiring, especially coming from a professor who ran for office herself.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Why Women Don't Run May 12, 2007

By Brenda K. Millhouse

Format:Paperback

This is an excellent book for researching women and politics. It is easy to read and understand and provides insight that has never been covered. I highly recommend this book to anyone researching women in politics.