What It Takes For Women Candidates To Run And Succeed
The Barbara Lee Family Foundation Launches New Website Focused on Making Practical, Nonpartisan Advice for Women Candidates Easily Accessible
“Despite what many say, women do continue to face unique obstacles when running for office. Having the tools and knowledge about what it takes to run and campaign and win will be a valuable tool for all women candidates.”
-Republican Governor Christine Todd Whitman (New Jersey, 1994-2001)
“We know women face barriers on the campaign trail. But with Barbara Lee Family Foundation research in hand, women also have the tools to break those barriers.”
-Democratic Governor Maggie Hassan (New Hampshire, 2013-Present)
The Barbara Lee Family Foundation produces nonpartisan, pragmatic guides for women running for office based on:
- Studying every woman’s campaign for governor on both sides of the aisle since 1998.
- Conducting real-time polling on voters’ views of women candidates, asking questions on issues such as likeability, qualifications, and contrasting with opponents.
The Barbara Lee Family Foundation has been able to share direct, must-know advice for women running for office, and, today, we launch a new website that provides a comprehensive overview of this work. The website can be found at www.barbaraleefoundation.org.
The most relevant findings are distilled, and the focus is on what is unique about a woman’s race for public office. The new website highlights key obstacles, opportunities, and tips for women candidates, such as:
- Woman have to launch their campaigns ready to hit the ground running. There’s little room for mistakes, so preparation is key.
- Likeability is essential for women, but men get a pass. Voters notice a woman’s looks, makeup, hair, clothing, race, and voice when judging her likeability, and what they notice often mirrors gender stereotypes.
- A woman candidate’s biggest opportunity to show leadership to voters is being seen as a problem-solver.