Gender and Politics

Beginning of article

Do women legislators make a difference? "Sometimes," says author Beth Reingold. Her book questions many beliefs about the expected behaviors of women and men politicians. Her exhaustive 1990 study of female legislators in Arizona and California reveals that women are more attuned to the needs of their female constituents than their male colleagues. Females are more active in such issues as children, health, education, the environment and welfare.

However, few significant gender differences appear in either attitudes or vote decisions in the 1990 Arizona and California legislatures. Men and women agreed more than they disagreed. Political party affiliation was more important …