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Prominent Role Models: High‐Profile Female Politicians and the Emergence of Women as Candidates for Public Office

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  • Christina Ladam
  • Jeffrey J. Harden
  • Jason H. Windett

Abstract

Can prominent female politicians inspire other women to enter politics? A woman occupying a high‐profile office directly impacts women's substantive representation through her policy actions. Here, we consider whether these female leaders also facilitate a mobilization effect by motivating other women to run for office. We posit that prominent women in politics serve as role models for other women interested in political careers, causing an increase in female candidates. We test this theory with data from the American states, which exhibit considerable variation in the sex of state legislative candidates and the high‐profile offices of governor and U.S. senator. Using a weighting method and data spanning 1978–2012, we demonstrate that high‐profile women exert substantively large positive effects on female candidates. We conclude that women in major offices are crucial for women's representation. Beyond their direct policy impact, they amplify women's political voice by motivating more women to enter politics.

Suggested Citation

  • Christina Ladam & Jeffrey J. Harden & Jason H. Windett, 2018. "Prominent Role Models: High‐Profile Female Politicians and the Emergence of Women as Candidates for Public Office," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 62(2), pages 369-381, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:amposc:v:62:y:2018:i:2:p:369-381
    DOI: 10.1111/ajps.12351
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    Cited by:

    1. Ryan Brown & Hani Mansour & Stephen O'Connell & James Reeves, 2019. "Gender Differences in Political Career Progression: Evidence from U.S. Elections," CESifo Working Paper Series 7821, CESifo.
    2. Jon H Fiva & Max-Emil M King, 2024. "Child Penalties in Politics," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 134(658), pages 648-670.
    3. Clayton, Amanda & Tang, Belinda, 2018. "How women’s incumbency affects future elections: Evidence from a policy experiment in Lesotho," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 385-393.
    4. Lucía Tiscornia, 2024. "Police reform in the aftermath of armed conflict: How militarization and accountability affect police violence," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 61(3), pages 383-397, May.
    5. Song, B.K., 2020. "The effect of public financing on candidate reemergence and success in elections," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    6. Kikuta,Kyosuke & Hanayama,Manaho, 2023. "Does the Nobel Peace Prize Improve Women’s Rights? Prize and Praise in International Relations," IDE Discussion Papers 903, Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization(JETRO).
    7. Maitra, Pushkar & Rosenblum, Daniel, 2022. "Upstream effects of female political reservations," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).

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