{"id":6980,"date":"2009-03-07T22:26:52","date_gmt":"2009-03-08T05:46:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.amptoons.com\/blog\/?p=6980"},"modified":"2009-03-07T22:26:52","modified_gmt":"2009-03-08T05:46:40","slug":"women-and-politics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/amptoons.com\/blog\/?p=6980","title":{"rendered":"Women and Politics"},"content":{"rendered":"

Smart Politics did a nice run-down<\/a> of the presence of women in legislatures throughout the country, noting that my home state of Minnesota finished fourth on the list, with women making up 34.8 percent of the legislature.<\/p>\n

That is, of course, reason to be proud. While we’re still a good ways from the 45 to 55 percent it would be in a truly egalitarian society, it’s a full ten percent above the national mean, and we’ll get there by and by.<\/p>\n

But what really struck me about the numbers crunched by Smart Politics was this table:\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n
Rank<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
State<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Percent<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
2008 Pres. vote<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
1<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Colorado<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
40.0<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Obama<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
2<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
New Hampshire<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
37.3<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Obama<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
3<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Vermont<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
37.2<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Obama<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
4<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Minnesota<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
34.8<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Obama<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
5<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Hawaii<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
32.9<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Obama<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
6<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Washington<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
32.0<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Obama<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
7<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Nevada<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
31.7<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Obama<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
8<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Connecticut<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
31.6<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Obama<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
9<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Maryland<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
31.4<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Obama<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
10<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
New Mexico<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
30.4<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Obama<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
11<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Arizona<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
30.0<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
McCain<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
12<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
New Jersey<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
29.2<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Obama<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
13<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Kansas<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
29.1<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
McCain<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
14<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Maine<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
29.0<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Obama<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
15<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Oregon<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
28.9<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Obama<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
16<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
California<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
27.5<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Obama<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
17<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Illinois<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
27.1<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Obama<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
18<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Massachusetts<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
26.0<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Obama<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
18<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Montana<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
26.0<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
McCain<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
20<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
North Carolina<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
25.9<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Obama<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
21<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Michigan<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
25.0<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Obama<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
22<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
New York<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
24.5<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Obama<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
23<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Delaware<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
24.2<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Obama<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
24<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Florida<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
23.8<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Obama<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
24<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Idaho<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
23.8<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
McCain<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
24<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Texas<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
23.8<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
McCain<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
27<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Arkansas<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
23.7<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
McCain<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
28<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Iowa<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
22.7<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Obama<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
29<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Rhode Island<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
22.1<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Obama<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
29<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Utah<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
22.1<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
McCain<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
31<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Indiana<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
22.0<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Obama<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
31<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Wisconsin<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
22.0<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Obama<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
33<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Missouri<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
20.8<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
McCain<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
34<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Ohio<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
20.5<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Obama<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
35<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Nebraska<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
20.4<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
McCain<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
36<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Alaska<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
20.0<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
McCain<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
37<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Georgia<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
19.1<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
McCain<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
38<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
South Dakota<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
19.0<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
McCain<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
39<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Tennessee<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
18.2<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
McCain<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
40<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Wyoming<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
17.8<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
McCain<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
41<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
West Virginia<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
16.4<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
McCain<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
42<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Virginia<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
15.7<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Obama<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
43<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
North Dakota<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
15.6<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
McCain<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
44<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Louisiana<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
15.3<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
McCain<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
45<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Kentucky<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
15.2<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
McCain<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
46<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Pennsylvania<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
14.6<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Obama<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
47<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Mississippi<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
14.4<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
McCain<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
48<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Alabama<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
12.9<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
McCain<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
49<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Oklahoma<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
11.4<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
McCain<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
50<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
South Carolina<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
10.0<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
McCain<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Total<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
<\/strong>\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
24.2<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Kinda sticks out like a sore thumb, doesn’t it? Yes, states with more women in the legislature tended to be Obama states, while states with fewer women in the legislature tend to be McCain states.<\/p>\n

Even the outliers tell an interesting story. The eleventh-highest level of women in the legislature is in Arizona, which ended up a McCain state because, well, it’s McCain’s state. Number 18, Montana, didn’t go to Obama, but it’s a definite swing state that Democrats are still working on. Of the 23 most female legislatures, only Kansas, at 13, is a solid red state.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Pennsylvania, the fifth-most-male state legislature, speaks volumes about that state’s odd politics. While the state is Democratic, it’s got a conservative streak, one that’s led to a number of pro-life Democrats gaining state office. Pennsylvania is liberal<\/em>, but it isn’t necessarily friendly to women.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, the breakdown of women in legislatures looks much as you’d expect it to:<\/p>\n

\"womenleg.jpg\"<\/p>\n

As to the questions this raises — mainly, whether women in the legislature leads to more liberalism or vice versa — I think it’s probably a bit of both. Certainly, it’s a sign that states that are more liberal are more friendly to female candidates. But of course, states that are more liberal are more friendly to women, full stop.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Smart Politics did a nice run-down of the presence of women in legislatures throughout the country, noting that my home state of Minnesota finished fourth on the list, with women making up 34.8 percent of the legislature. That is, of … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27,31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6980","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-elections-and-politics","category-feminism-sexism-etc"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/amptoons.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6980","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/amptoons.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/amptoons.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amptoons.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amptoons.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6980"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/amptoons.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6980\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/amptoons.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6980"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amptoons.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6980"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amptoons.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6980"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}