As a political scientist, I think a lot about power: how it is allocated, how one acquires it, and who possesses the authority to wield it. In our image-soaked and media-infused world, the message constantly conveyed is that the only women who are powerful are beautiful women. From magazines to movies, the women who get the good jobs, the great guys, and the happy lives are only those women who are beautiful. More than pretty, they are perfect. Perfect hair. Perfect bodies. Perfect smile. Perfect skin. Perfect clothes. Perfect mix …

The opinions expressed herein are those of the author, and not necessarily those of The New Agenda.
Despite the fact that in every presidential election since 1980 the turnout rates for women have exceeded the turnout rates for men, women will again be asked this November to choose between two men for the Oval Office. Most women will decide to vote for their political party’s nominee, and because “Republicans are slightly more likely to be male than female — although slightly less so today than in 2008,” a gender gap is …

Over the last two weeks, as Newt Gingrich’s nomination prospects have been falling, voters’ dissatisfaction has been rising, and it has become clear that the presidential contest will likely be between incumbent President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, an amazing thing has been happening.
Three women have been rising in the presidential field. Two are not even running.
Both Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin are the subjects of media speculations and draft efforts from former supporters (see: Clinton, Clinton, Palin, and Palin). While …

You’ve heard it dozens of times, yet the fact remains.  Fifty-one percent of the people in the United States are women, but only 17 percent of U.S. Senators are women.
Sure, that’s better than the presidency (0 out of 43).  It’s on par with the House (73 out of 435).  And it’s close to the record for governors (9 out of 50, which occurred in both 2004 and 2007).
Still.
2010 started well.  As the Center for American Women in Politics at Rutgers explained, a record number of women – 36 – filed …

The following article by The New Agenda Board Member Lara Brown is also featured at The Huffington Post.
"Sharon Bialek speaks during a news conference accusing Republican presidential hopeful Herman Cain of sexual harassment in New York, November 7, 2011." (Reuters/Yahoo)
“Because I could”, said Bill Clinton about Monica. It’s doubtful that truer words have been spoken on the subject of how some men in positions of power behave around women.
In some cases the “could” is a one-way sexual attraction involving offensive and brutish behavior (Cain pulling Ms. Bialek’s “head towards his …

Female president on Fox series "24"With Sarah Palin opting out of the 2012 contest and Hillary Clinton not running again, we may not see a truly viable female presidential candidate for years – maybe even decades.
To have a shot at winning the presidency, one must first win a major party’s nomination.
Since 1976, only “top tier” or “front-running” aspirants (those polling highest and/or raising the most money) have won a major party nomination contest ( Mayer and Busch, 2003, p. 66 …

Good thing Chris Christie did not run. He had four major problems: Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina. He’s too liberal for Iowa, too close to Wall Street for New Hampshire, too dismissive of Nevada, and too quiet about his religion for South Carolina. Unlikely to finish better than third in any of these races, his mediocre showings would have translated into little numerical support (even with these early states allocating convention delegates using proportional representation) and less media momentum.
Sarah Palin has none of these problems. She’s conservative (like …

Poring over the head-to-head match-ups looking for a divining rod for the election, most professional political pundits have declared that Romney is the “electable” Republican candidate.
What these analysts fail to acknowledge as they debate the tautological concept of “electability” (only by being elected can one be shown to be electable) is that the presidential contest will look completely different – different levels of turnout, different states in play, different kinds of media coverage – depending on which candidate wins the Republican nomination.
And the reality is this: If sexism doesn’t derail …

This September, the question is not what’s in Vogue, but who’s in Vogue – and Elle and Glamour. The answer: powerful female politicians and activists talking policy from all across the ideological spectrum.
Vogue interviewed Christine Lagarde, the recently appointed managing director of the International Monetary Fund. Although the profile centered on her “oatmeal-hued suit,” “bandbox-neat” appearance, and overall “elegance,” it also discussed her “classically liberal” leanings towards Adam Smith’s economic thought, meaning her preferences for “free trade and minimal government intervention, positions usually associated with conservatism.” Further, it quoted her …

Despite the worrisome economy, Iowans couldn’t be happier. It’s their turn – again.

Once every four years for about six months, Iowans get to showcase their state to a national audience, personally meet presidential candidates, and winnow down each party’s primary field.

Thursday night’s Fox News/Washington Examiner Iowa GOP debate kicked off this season’s festivities with a bang. The “all-American fun” continues today at the Iowa State Fair (with a cow carved out of butter and fried everything you can imagine, including a deep fried Snickers bar on-a-stick) and with the much-watched Ames Straw Poll (held …