Publisher's Synopsis
Women currently hold 20 per cent of seats in US state legislatures, but only 6 per cent of US senate and governorships. This book examines the impact of sex role stereotyping on the electability of women candidates and as a central factor in the conduct and consequences of state-wide campaigns.;Focusing on candidates, the media and voters, the book explores how women's perceived liabilities and capabilities affect the outcome of campaigns. Women candidates, the book discovers, not only experience stereotyping by editors and reporters and in turn, by voters, but actually prepare for it, choosing to emphasize themes that are consistent with what people expect. Though women candidates may believe that fulfilling the public's expectations will be effective, the author affirms that the limiting factors of these stereotypes deny women's access to elected office.
