Women and Politics in the United States and Canada

Abstract

Since 1920 the women of the United States and Canada have steadily increased their responsibilities as voters. They have, however, been slow to assume policy-making positions at the state and federal levels. Many of them accept political responsibilities on boards and municipal councils, thereby functioning in areas of local education, welfare, and budgeting. Thus, they permit their interests and activities continually to revolve around the time-honored role of women. In both countries, there are a few women who have held Cabinet positions, and women are representatives in the Con gress of the United States and the Canadian parliament. These women continue an interest in health, education, and welfare, but most of their committee appointments are in areas of male specialization, such as armed services, transpor tation, banking, atomic energy, aeronautics, and flood control. This fact supports recent findings that the political behavior of men and women is similar at the higher educational levels. The lag between the voting habits of women and their accept ance of responsible public office may be attributable to tradi tional roles, ethnic and regional differentials, sporadic interest in politics, localized political activity, and woman's underestimation of her political potential.