The public’s interest in domestic versus international concerns crosses elections (Page
and Shapiro 1992, Mayer 1992; Aldrich et al. 2006). Generally, Americans demonstrate greater
interest in international affairs and policy when foreign events have the greatest potential to
affect them. In contrast, during periods of relative international quiet, Americans turn their
attention to other matters (Russett 1990:91). From the 1980s until the early 1990s, the American
public was largely focused on Communism, the Gulf War, and other security-related concerns.
For example, a 1989 article explains: “with the exception of the period between 1973 and 1980,
foreign issues have been commonly cited as the most important problems facing the
nation.” (Aldrich, Sullivan, and Borgida 1989:135).
In contrast, the 1990s are generally recognized as an era when domestic issues were at the
forefront of American politics. The end of both the Cold War and the Gulf War, combined with a
recession, focused American’s thoughts inward (Dolan 2005; Abbe, Goodliffe, Herrnson, and
Patterson 2003). Health care, the economy, abortion, and sexual harassment were among the
domestic issues at the center of public debate (Delli Carpini and Fuchs 1993). Thus, taking a
multi-election perspective situates the Year of the Woman as just the start of decade-long period
where a focus on domestic issues favored women.
Since the 9/11 terrorist event of 2001, the public’s focus again turned outward to the
Middle East, Afghanistan, and Iraq. And as security issues once again take center stage, women
are hypothesized to face an uphill battle in elections (Lawless 2004). Although foreign policy
became a central concern to the voting public after 2001, research suggests that women
continued to emphasize “stereotypically feminine policy issues and personality traits on the
campaign trail” (Dolan 2004:60). Thus, the combination of a political climate focused on
international issues and women’s fixed campaign strategies may have hindered the growth in
female representation in the 21
st
Century.
In sum, women’s gains in legislative representation are likely responsive to political
context. Since women are stereotyped to excel at domestic issues, their electoral fortunes depend
upon the primary interest of the voters in any given election. If international issues, crime, or
security are of more concern than domestic issues, then women may suffer in upcoming
elections. Over time, the urgency regarding international or domestic issues fluctuates, opening
or closing opportunities for women to have greater success in the political arena.
7
Convention