Recent Grants
Citizen Political Ambition Study, Wave II
Researchers at Union College and Brown University are building on the first Citizen Political Ambition study to understand why so few women in the United States currently hold elected office, and furthermore why there has been a recent stagnation in the number of women looking to enter the political arena. The study aims to track women's interest in seeking political office over the course of their lives, and assess the types of life circumstances that enhance or depress levels of political ambition.
The United States ranks 81st worldwide in the number of women serving in the national legislature. The data is also troubling at the state and local levels. Whereas the 1980s saw a gradual increase in the numbers of women candidates and elected officials, the last several election cycles mark a plateau in women's entry into the political sphere. This research will examine these trends and glean insight into women's interest and engagement in political careers.
