KUKU

KU ScholarWorks

  • myKU
  • Email
  • Enroll & Pay
  • KU Directory
    • Login
    View Item 
    •   KU ScholarWorks
    • Dissertations and Theses
    • Theses
    • View Item
    •   KU ScholarWorks
    • Dissertations and Theses
    • Theses
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Rise of the Mama Grizzlies: Rethinking Women’s Descriptive and Substantive Representation in the American States

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    Bettes_ku_0099M_14034_DATA_1.pdf (709.2Kb)
    Issue Date
    2015-05-31
    Author
    Bettes, William Mark
    Publisher
    University of Kansas
    Format
    56 pages
    Type
    Thesis
    Degree Level
    M.A.
    Discipline
    Political Science
    Rights
    Copyright held by the author.
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    Prior theoretical and empirical research focusing on descriptive and substantive representation by gender frequently assumes that the election of women improves substantive representation by moving policy in a feminist-oriented direction. However, these studies often tend to focus on the passage of legislation as a function of women in the legislature and may neglect the important roles played by legislatures and political parties in facilitation (or mitigation) of these policy preferences. Newer empirical research reveals a greater appreciation for the ideological diversity of legislative women, as well as the need to understand the effects institutions have on the individual legislator’s decision-making. This paper tests the strength of the assumed link between descriptive and substantive representation in state legislatures by first placing elected women within the context of the legislature as well as of party. Using logistic regression analyses, I then evaluate the levels of support (sponsorship patterns and voting patterns) present in the highly-partisan policy environment of state-level abortion restrictions—previously thought to be a policy area where women were likely to vote together regardless of party. Overall, I find support for the notion that abortion policy is more a partisan issue than a gender issue in the contemporary policymaking environment. As women have increased their ranks in the last twenty-five years, their diversity has increased as well. Implications for future research highlighting heterogeneity among women as well as intersectionality are briefly discussed.
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/1808/19014
    Collections
    • Political Science Dissertations and Theses [134]
    • Theses [3828]

    Items in KU ScholarWorks are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.


    We want to hear from you! Please share your stories about how Open Access to this item benefits YOU.


    Contact KU ScholarWorks
    785-864-8983
    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    785-864-8983

    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    Image Credits
     

     

    Browse

    All of KU ScholarWorksCommunities & CollectionsThis Collection

    My Account

    LoginRegister

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics

    Contact KU ScholarWorks
    785-864-8983
    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    785-864-8983

    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    Image Credits
     

     

    The University of Kansas
      Contact KU ScholarWorks
    Lawrence, KS | Maps
     
    • Academics
    • Admission
    • Alumni
    • Athletics
    • Campuses
    • Giving
    • Jobs

    The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression and genetic information in the University’s programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Director of the Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access, IOA@ku.edu, 1246 W. Campus Road, Room 153A, Lawrence, KS, 66045, (785)864-6414, 711 TTY.

     Contact KU
    Lawrence, KS | Maps