Does Sex Make a Difference? a Case Study of Women in Politics

public life; these constraints are said to stem from their role as primary caretaker of the home and children.1 Those who observe women already in office note that women face bias within political institutions and are not given the same opportunities as men to advance or achieve positions of power and influence; this bias makes sex a detriment to women's ability to gain and hold public office once they opt for political careers.2 This study concerns itself with both issues and addresses itself to these basic questions: (1) What evidence exists to show that a woman's family creates obstacles to her pursuit of a political career? (2) What evidence exists to show that a woman's sex has an effect on campaigning and serving in public office?