Gender Socialization and Women in Politics

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In 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights declared all acts of discrimination on the basis of sex unlawful. 31 years later, the Convention on Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) was adopted by the General Assembly. The CEDAW prompted an international document of the same name that advocates for the full incorporation of women in decision making capacities. It also “emphasis the civil rights, legal rights of women, reproductive roles and rights, impact of cultural factors on gender relations and barriers on advancement of women (World Bank, 2012). Moreover, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) outlined the most pervasive threats to global peace and security and set eight goals on how to eradicate them. These goals are referred to as Millennium Development Goals (MDG). 189 member states in 2000 vowed to “Promote gender equality and empower women” when they endorsed the UNDP’S MDG. In 1963, thousands of women find voice and courage after reading Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique and the second wave hit. The description of educated housewives imprisoned by the monotony of domestic servitude hit home for many. A woman was quoted as saying “"The female doesn't really expect a lot from life. She's here as someone's keeper — her husband's or her children's"(Coontz, Stephanie). Friedan’s work was founded on liberal feminism, the theory that attributes gender differences and inequality to the practice of socialization. During the same year, the Equal Pay Act was passed and mandated that men and women should receive the same wages for the same job. Before the Equal Pay Act, men and women were confined to vocational roles based on gendered norms. Women often stayed at home with the c... ... middle of paper ... ...me a Long Way, Baby? Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin, and Sexism in 2008 Campaign Coverage.” Communication Studies. 2009. 60(4): 326-343. Carroll, Susan J. “Reflections on Gender and Hillary Clinton’s Presidential Campaign: The Good, the Bad, and the Misogynic.” Politics & Gender. 2009. 5(1): 1-20. Lawless, Jennifer L. and Fox, Richard L. ”Men Rule: The Continued Under-Representation of Women in U.S. Politics. Women and Politics Institute. 2012 Washington, D.C. Okimoto, Tyler G. and Brescoll, Victoria L. “The Price of Power: Power Seeking and Backlash Against Female Politicians.” Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. 2010. 36(7): 923-936. Heflick, N. A., & Goldenberg, J. L. (2009). Objectifying Sarah Palin: Evidence that objectification causes women to be perceived as less competent and less fully human. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 45, 598-601.

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