Women in Presidential Cabinets: Power Players or Abundant Tokens?

ISBN-13: 9780190491420 / Angielski / Twarda / 2016 / 320 str.

Maria C. Escobar-Lemmon; Michelle M. Taylor-Robinson

Opis

Though parity is still rare, presidential cabinets contain more women than ever before. Who are these women and what types of political capital resources do they bring to the administration? Are they new types of political players or very much like the men who have traditionally run the government? And once they gain office, are they treated equally in the cabinet? Do they have the capacity to be as effective as their male counterparts?

Drawing on data from five presidential democracies -- Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, and the United States -- Women in Presidential Cabinets examines the backgrounds, connections and credentials of all full-rank cabinet ministers in presidential administrations over the course of two decades to determine if women and men bring similar numbers and diversity of political capital resources to the administration. Maria C. Escobar-Lemmon and Michelle M. Taylor-Robinson find that, with a few notable exceptions, presidents select men and women with similar work and education backgrounds, political experience, and linkages to related interest groups. There are, however, differences across types of posts and countries. They evaluate the treatment and effectiveness of similarly credentialed male and female ministers on four benchmarks. Specifically, they examine whether women with equal qualifications can really obtain all posts or whether glass ceilings persist in some areas. They then turn to the ability of women to hold onto a post, considering the nature and circumstances surrounding their departures from office and how long they remain in office. In doing so, they uncover evidence that female ministers in Latin America stand on an unequal playing field when it comes to the ability to enact policy through legislation. Ultimately, Escobar-Lemmon and Taylor-Robinson show conclusively that while women lack numerical equality, they are no longer tokens, instead appearing positioned to exercise power at the highest levels within the executive branch.

Recenzje

With this book, Maria C. Escobar-Lemmon and Michelle M. Taylor-Robinson offer a much needed study of women in cabinet. The book goes well beyond the usual story of why fewer women than men get a seat at the cabinet table, and explores whether gender shapes career trajectories in cabinet, reasons for exiting cabinets, and level of legislative activity. Their findings reveal much about where women have made gains, and where progress has been slower. The book will be essential reading for gender scholars as well as those studying cabinets and executive.

O autorze

Maria Escobar-Lemmon is Associate Professor of Political Science at Texas A&M University. Michelle Taylor-Robinson is Professor of Political Science and affiliated faculty in Women's and Gender Studies at Texas A&M University.