In-Depth Notes on Politics, Elections, Prisons, and the Military - Chapter 10

Introduction to Politics and Gender

• The chapter discusses the intersection of gender with three political arenas: electoral politics, the criminal justice system, and the military.
• Importance of understanding how politics is influenced by gender.
• The personal is political: feminists highlighted how personal relationships reflect power dynamics.

Voting Rights and Electoral Politics

• Historical context of voting rights:
• Women's suffrage movement culminates in the 19th Amendment (1920).
• Comparative timeline: New Zealand first to allow women to vote (1893), many European countries followed after WWII.
• Gender gap in voting:
• Since 1980, women more likely to vote than men; voter turnout statistics show this trend.
• Women favor more liberal candidates and policies compared to men.
• In 2016, significant gender gap noted in presidential elections (Clinton vs. Trump).

Gender Representation in Elected Offices

• Women in Congress:
• Slow increase in representation; by 2018, women held 23% of Senate seats.
• Transparency of political dynamics compared to historical trends.
• Barriers to office: incumbency issues, gendered perceptions of leadership qualities.
• Resources and representation: disparity in funding and endorsements based on gender.

The Gender Gap in Criminal Justice

• Overview of incarceration statistics and trends by gender and race/ethnicity.
• Female incarceration rates rising significantly, particularly in low-level offenses.
• Theories explaining gender disparity in criminal behavior:
• Masculinity theory: links aggressive behavior to societal expectations of masculinity.
• Opportunity theory: discusses access to crime through occupational roles.
• Chivalry theory: argues that leniency in the system makes women appear to commit fewer crimes.

Women in the Military

• Historical context: longstanding exclusion of women from combat roles.
• Recent policy changes (2016) allowing women to serve in all military positions.
• Statistics showing percentage of women in the military increasing, particularly among officers.
• Issues of sexual harassment and discrimination: specific challenges faced by women serving.

Impact of Women's Relationships in Peace Processes

• Significant role of women in peace-building efforts in conflict zones.
• Research shows that women tend to favor peaceful resolutions more than men.

Redefining Political Action

• Discussion on broadening the definition of political beyond formal roles to include informal activism and community work.
• Importance of grassroots movements and representation of marginalized voices.

Three Models for Reform

• Meritocratic Model: focuses on increasing women's competitiveness.
• Affirmative Action Model: supports quotas and measures for gender balance in political offices.
• Radical Model: seeks major restructuring of political institutions to accommodate inclusivity.