Gender & PoliticsGender & Politics

PoliticsPolitics

A social process through which A social process through which people and groups acquire, people and groups acquire, exercise, maintain, or lose power exercise, maintain, or lose power over others. over others.

(Hickley, 1999)(Hickley, 1999)

Power Power

Is the ability of one person or Is the ability of one person or group to exercise influence and group to exercise influence and control over others.control over others.

(Anderson & Taylor, 2004)(Anderson & Taylor, 2004)

Analysis of PowerAnalysis of Power

Sociologists ask and answer the Sociologists ask and answer the following questions:following questions:

How is it structured in society—who How is it structured in society—who has it, how is it used, and how is it has it, how is it used, and how is it built into institutions such as the built into institutions such as the state?state?

(Anderson & Taylor, 2004)(Anderson & Taylor, 2004)

MacropoliticsMacropolitics

The exercise of large-scale power, The exercise of large-scale power, the government being the most the government being the most common examplecommon example

(Henslin, 2004)(Henslin, 2004)

MicropoliticsMicropolitics

The exercise of power in everyday The exercise of power in everyday lifelife

Example: deciding who is going to do the Example: deciding who is going to do the houseworkhousework

(Henslin, 2004)(Henslin, 2004)

“Women’s Power in Global Perspective”

(Map from Macionis, 2005)

International PoliticsInternational Politics

Although women are half the Earths Although women are half the Earths population, they hold 18.4% seats of population, they hold 18.4% seats of the world’s 180 parliaments.the world’s 180 parliaments.

(http://www.ipu.org/wmn-e/world.htm Feb 28 2009)

Women in Parliament—Women in Parliament—WorldwideWorldwide

TotalTotal 44,64444,644

Gender Breakdown Gender Breakdown Known ForKnown For

44,04444,044

MenMen 35,95135,951

WomenWomen 8,0948,094

Percentage of Percentage of WomenWomen

18.4%18.4%

http://www.ipu.org/wmn-e/world.htm--March 2009

Greatest Gender EqualityGreatest Gender Equality Percentage of Seats in ParliamentPercentage of Seats in Parliament

Rwanda—56.3%Rwanda—56.3%Sweden -- 47% Sweden -- 47% Cuba -- 43.2%Cuba -- 43.2%Finland -- 41.5%Finland -- 41.5%Netherlands -- 41.3%Netherlands -- 41.3%United States—17%United States—17%

http://www.ipu.org/wmn-e/world.htm--March 2009http://www.ipu.org/wmn-e/world.htm--March 2009

(Inter-parliamentary Union, 2005)(Inter-parliamentary Union, 2005)

Women in National Women in National ParliamentParliamentSingle/Lower Single/Lower

househouseUpper houseUpper house Both houses Both houses

combinedcombined

Nordic CountriesNordic Countries 41.4%41.4% ------ 41.4%41.4%

AmericasAmericas 21.8%21.8% 20.2%20.2% 21.5%21.5%Europe-OSCEEurope-OSCE

Excluding Nordic Excluding Nordic NationsNations

19.3% 19.3% 19.4% 19.4% 19.3% 19.3%

Sub-Saharan Sub-Saharan AfricaAfrica

18.1% 18.1% 21.4% 21.4% 18.5% 18.5%

AsiaAsia 18% 18% 16.5% 16.5% 17.8% 17.8%

PacificPacific 13% 13% 32.6% 32.6% 15.2% 15.2%

Arab StatesArab States 9.7% 9.7% 7.0% 7.0% 9.1% 9.1% (http://www.ipu.org/wmn-e/world.htm March 2009)

What do all these nations What do all these nations have in common?have in common?

CanadaCanada ArgentinaArgentina BoliviaBolivia NicaraguaNicaragua PanamaPanama PhilippinesPhilippines IsraelIsrael PolandPoland IrelandIreland NorwayNorway BurundiBurundi RwandaRwanda

IndiaIndia PakistanPakistan Sri LankaSri Lanka HaitiHaiti TurkeyTurkey BangladeshBangladesh Great BritainGreat Britain YugoslaviaYugoslavia PortugalPortugal Central African Central African

RepublicRepublic JamaicaJamaica

Answer:Answer:

All have had a woman All have had a woman president or prime president or prime minister.minister.

Current Women Political Current Women Political LeadersLeaders

President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner –ArgentinaPresident Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner –Argentina Queen Margrethe II -- Denmark -- Denmark President Tarja Halonen—FinlandPresident Tarja Halonen—Finland Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir –IcelandPrime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir –Iceland President Mary McAleese –IrelandPresident Mary McAleese –Ireland Queen Beatrix -- Netherlands -- Netherlands President Vaira Vike-Freiberga –LatviaPresident Vaira Vike-Freiberga –Latvia President Marie-Noëlle Thémereau – New CaldoneaPresident Marie-Noëlle Thémereau – New Caldonea Governor-General Dame Pearlette Louisy –St. LuciaGovernor-General Dame Pearlette Louisy –St. Lucia Prime Minister Helen Clark – New ZealandPrime Minister Helen Clark – New Zealand President President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo – Phillipines – Phillipines Prime Minister Maria do Carmo Silveira— Prime Minister Maria do Carmo Silveira— São Tomé and Príncipe

((http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0801534.html--retrieved March March 2009)2009)

FutureFuture

The United Nations suggests at The United Nations suggests at current rates it will be 500 years current rates it will be 500 years before women have equivalent before women have equivalent power to men in global politics.power to men in global politics.

United StatesUnited States

U.S.-International U.S.-International ComparisonComparison

Overall, the U.S. in 2009 ranked Overall, the U.S. in 2009 ranked 71st71st among 188 nations in the proportion among 188 nations in the proportion of women serving as national of women serving as national legislators. legislators.

(Interparliamentary Union, 2009)(Interparliamentary Union, 2009)

111111thth U.S. Congress U.S. Congress

90 Women in U.S. Congress90 Women in U.S. Congress17 Women in the U.S. Senate—17% 17 Women in the U.S. Senate—17% (of 100)(of 100)

73 Women in the House of Reps -- 73 Women in the House of Reps -- 16.8% of seats (of 435)16.8% of seats (of 435)

CAWP March 2009CAWP March 2009

Speaker of the HouseSpeaker of the House

Congresswoman Nanci Pelosi Congresswoman Nanci Pelosi

Second in presidential line of Second in presidential line of successionsuccession

First woman in history to hold this postFirst woman in history to hold this postCAWP March 2009CAWP March 2009

Women in the US Senate Women in the US Senate 20092009

17 women (13D, 4R) serve in the US 17 women (13D, 4R) serve in the US Senate in the 111th Congress. Senate in the 111th Congress.

To date, a total of 31 women have To date, a total of 31 women have served in the Senate.served in the Senate.

(http://www.cawp.rutgers.edu/Facts/Officeholders/cawpfs.html)(http://www.cawp.rutgers.edu/Facts/Officeholders/cawpfs.html)

Women in Cabinet Positions in Women in Cabinet Positions in the Obama Administrationthe Obama Administration

Hillary Rodham ClintonHillary Rodham ClintonSecretary of StateSecretary of State

Melody C. BarnesMelody C. BarnesDirector of the Domestic Policy CouncilDirector of the Domestic Policy Council

Janet NapolitanoJanet NapolitanoSecretary of Homeland SecuritySecretary of Homeland Security

Hilda L. SolisHilda L. SolisSecretary of LaborSecretary of Labor

Women GovernorsWomen Governors

women in U.S. history have served as governorwomen in U.S. history have served as governor

8 women currently serve as governors:8 women currently serve as governors: AlaskaAlaska Gov. Sarah Palin ArizonaArizona Gov. Jan Brewer North CarolinaNorth Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue ConnecticutConnecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell HawaiiHawaii Gov. Linda Lingle Gov. Linda Lingle KansasKansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius Gov. Kathleen Sebelius MichiganMichigan Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm WashingtonWashington Gov. Chris Gregoire Gov. Chris Gregoire

(http://www.nga.org) March 2009(http://www.nga.org) March 2009

Women in Politics: U.S. Congress

Women in State Women in State LegislatureLegislature

(http://www.cawp.rutgers.edu/Facts/Officeholders/(http://www.cawp.rutgers.edu/Facts/Officeholders/

cawpfs.htmlcawpfs.html))

Women in Politics: Public Attitudes

Would America be in better hands if morewomen were in political office?

What are some examples What are some examples of Macrolevel political of Macrolevel political

power impacting the lives power impacting the lives of women, men, boys and of women, men, boys and

girls?girls?

MicropoliticsMicropolitics

HouseworkHousework

Women average 16.5 hours a week Women average 16.5 hours a week of housework compared to 9.2 hours of housework compared to 9.2 hours for men. This pattern holds whether for men. This pattern holds whether people are employed or not, people are employed or not, married or not, and parenting or not.married or not, and parenting or not.(Stapinski, 1998 cited in Macionis 2005)(Stapinski, 1998 cited in Macionis 2005)

HouseworkHousework

The closer a husband’s and wife’s The closer a husband’s and wife’s earnings, the more likely they are to earnings, the more likely they are to share housework. share housework.

-- Although husbands in such marriages -- Although husbands in such marriages don’t share housework equally, they share don’t share housework equally, they share more than other husbands. more than other husbands. (Henslin, 2004)(Henslin, 2004)

Unemployed husbands do the Unemployed husbands do the leastleast housework.housework.

Why?Why?

The Second ShiftThe Second Shift

Refers to the housework women do Refers to the housework women do after their paid job after their paid job (Hochschild, 1998).(Hochschild, 1998).

Wives who put in a 8-hour day of Wives who put in a 8-hour day of working for wages average 11 hours working for wages average 11 hours more childcare and housework each more childcare and housework each week than their husbands. week than their husbands. (Bianchi and Spain, (Bianchi and Spain, 1996 cited in Henslin, 2004)1996 cited in Henslin, 2004)

Wives are 8 times more likely than Wives are 8 times more likely than husbands to feel the division of labor husbands to feel the division of labor is unfair. is unfair. (Sanchez, 1994 cited in Henslin, 2004)(Sanchez, 1994 cited in Henslin, 2004)

Husbands Strategies of Husbands Strategies of ResistanceResistance

Hochschild interviewed 50 families and did Hochschild interviewed 50 families and did participant research with 12 and found that the participant research with 12 and found that the majority of husbands used the following strategies majority of husbands used the following strategies of resistance to housework:of resistance to housework:

Waiting it out: Don’t volunteer for housework. Waiting it out: Don’t volunteer for housework. When wife asks, show irritation or become glum. When wife asks, show irritation or become glum. This discourages wife from asking again.This discourages wife from asking again.

Playing Dumb: When doing housework, become Playing Dumb: When doing housework, become incompetent.incompetent.

Needs Reduction: Ex. Wrinkled clothes, cereal, ok.Needs Reduction: Ex. Wrinkled clothes, cereal, ok. Substitute Offerings: Express appreciation to the Substitute Offerings: Express appreciation to the

wife for being so organized—subtle encouragement wife for being so organized—subtle encouragement for her to keep working the second shift.for her to keep working the second shift.

What are other examples of What are other examples of microlevel power related to microlevel power related to

gender?gender?