ABSTRACT
This chapter shows how cultural myths and the ways in which women are located in the social structure interact to underplay and undermine women’s access to and participation in, politics, particularly in decision-making roles. It examines how women who do have political careers achieve them by routes that are alternative to those followed by men-routes that are more limited and more difficult for a political aspirant to follow and situated to minimize competition with men. The chapter explores indicators of changes in American society that suggest the opening of opportunities to women to participate more freely and more ‘normally’ in political life. The woman whose family claims her time may not be free to attend the meetings and social and other events that are necessary to make contacts and build a power base. Women holding political office have tended to have both less education than their male counterparts and a different kind of education.
