Women Governors as Symbols: Influencing Legislative Cosponsorship Behavior

• In Event: State Politics

Abstract

The increase of women in executive roles has been a focal point in global discussions, prompting extensive research on its impact, particularly in shaping societal attitudes and behaviors. While considerable attention has been given to the symbolic representation of women executives and its empowerment effects, there remains a gap in understanding how this representation influences women already entrenched in government spaces. Drawing on a comprehensive analysis of bill cosponsorship data spanning 2009 to 2021 in U.S. state legislatures, this study explores the strategic engagement of women legislators within cosponsorship networks. The focus is on how women navigate these networks to prioritize power-issue bills—traditionally beyond their policy scope—especially in the presence of a woman governor. As women governors ascend to top-level leadership positions, a ripple effect is observed, prompting women legislators to transcend their predefined committee assignments and tackle power-issue bills. The nuanced behavioral patterns uncovered reveal a strategic emphasis by women legislators on power-issue bills under a woman governor, while non-power-issue bills take precedence under a male governor. These findings offer valuable insights into the gendered dynamics between the executive and legislative branches. Moreover, they underscore the transformative potential of women leaders, shedding light on their pivotal role in shaping legislative agendas and challenging traditional perceptions in power-issue areas. In addressing persistent gender inequalities in political decision-making, this research contributes to the broader discourse on the empowerment of women in leadership, emphasizing the pivotal influence of women leaders in reshaping legislative landscapes and dismantling gender-based barriers.

Author

• Shana Hardin, University of Houston