Regional disparities in the election of women to state legislature positions

Jude Platz* and Heather Stephens

Division of Resource Economics and Management, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506

Presentation Category: Behavioral & Social Sciences (Poster Presentation #89)

Student’s Major: Environmental and Natural Resource Economics

Despite women constituting a majority of the United States population and achieving 57 percent of all undergraduate degrees, women are underrepresented in elected offices. As of 2019, only 28% of state legislators were female, and women made up less than 25% of the US Congress and only 18% of state governors. This study examines whether regional disparities exist in female political representation, and what other factors may be contributing to the underrepresentation of women in elected positions. Previous research indicates there is a compounding effect attributed to electing women to political positions, where previous experience with female elected officials contributes to further gains. However, there have not yet been any studies analyzing the regional disparities or any other factors that may be contributing to the progression of women in politics. Using a pooled ordinary least squares regression model with state level data from 1980-2010, it was determined that statistically significant disparities exist between regions, even after accounting for demographic characteristics such as education and unemployment. Early analysis also indicates that state legislatures in which Republicans exert bicameral control have a statistically significant positive impact on electing more women to state legislature positions. The results found from this study are useful not only for explaining the gap in female political representation, but also in suggesting methods or policies to increase representation within states.

Funding:

Program/mechanism supporting research/creative efforts: capstone course within my department