Women Take Their Place in State Legislatures: The Creation of Women's Caucuses

How do women strategically make their mark on state legislatures? Anna Mitchell Mahoneys book traces the development of womens state legislative caucuses and the influence both gender and party have on womens ability to organize collectively. She provides a comprehensive analysis of how and why women organize around their gender identity in state legislaturesor why they do not. Women Take Their Place in State Legislatures includes a quantitative analysis of institutional-level variables and caucus existence in all 50 states. Case studies of caucus attempts in New Jersey, Colorado, Pennsylvania, and Iowa between 2006 and 2010 examine attempts at creating womens caucuses that succeeded or failed, and why. Mahoneys interviews with 180 state legislators and their staff explore the motivations of caucus creators and participants. Ultimately, she finds that womens organizing is contextual; it demonstrates the dynamic nature of gender. Mahoney also provides insights into broad questions regarding gendered institutions, collective action, and political party governance. Women Take Their Place in State Legislatures fills a lacuna in the evaluation of women in government.