Gender and Public Policy Decision Making in State and Local Jurisdictions *

Abstract

Women are increasingly elected to public office and they are influencing the policy agendas in many local and state jurisdictions. In the United States people most often enter politics at the local level and then “climb the career ladder” to state and then national politics. As more and more women are being elected to state and local office, it is reasonable to expect that more women will be elected to national office. As women political office holders can have substantial power and authority, women-friendly initiatives become more prevalent.