As we head into the fourth democratic primary debate of the cycle, here’s what I’ll be looking for: History in Progress: A record number of women on the debate stage We’ve heard a lot about the record number of candidates that will take the stage next week – 12 in total, but that’s not …

  Happy Friday! Welcome to our Media Round Up. Each week we’re collecting and sharing our favorite gender + politics stories. Here’s what caught our eye this week: I’m a First Lady, and It’s an Incredibly Weird Job By Eliza Reid, New York Times Eliza Reid knows better than anyone that the First Lady is …

  We’ve talked a lot about the likeability double standard – but that’s not the only one women candidates have to contend with. Barbara Lee Family Foundation research has consistently shown that voters put women candidates on an “ethical pedestal,” a situation that comes with pros and cons. Voters have historically seen women candidates as …

  Every year, I ask my students in my Women, Politics and Media course at American University to close their eyes and picture an elected official. Usually, we come back as a group and talk about the “white man in a suit” that came to the front and center of everyone’s mind. This year, a …

  As we welcome Saturday Night Live back to the airwaves, we’re reminded that, over the past 10 years, making an appearance on the show has become a political rite of passage for many presidential candidates. Barack Obama and John McCain both made cameos (McCain had two) prior to the 2008 election, and Hillary Clinton …

  Happy Friday! Welcome to our Media Round Up. Each week we’re collecting and sharing our favorite gender + politics stories. Here’s what caught our eye this week: The 25 Most Powerful Women in Politics By Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune After careful consideration, Emma Hinchliffe has released her list of the “25 Most Powerful Women in …

  Yesterday, journalist Jessica Valenti wrote about “The Niceness Trap” we’ve seen on display this week. She wrote: When 16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg spoke at the United Nations yesterday, she was not cute or pleasing… She was powerful and most definitely not “nice.” There is a reason men resort to calling women “nasty” or …

  Interested in electoral reform and electing more women, but overwhelmed by the prospect of abolishing the Electoral College? You may want to learn about ranked choice voting (RCV).  What is Ranked Choice Voting? RCV is an electoral system where instead of choosing just one favorite, voters rank as many candidates as they want in …

  As we celebrate National Voter Registration Day, here’s a reminder: Women have voted at higher rates than men in every presidential election since 1964. The Women & Politics Institute at American University did a deep dive right after the 2018 midterm elections into what women voters are prioritizing, and here are four things to …