States was transitioning out of the first Gulf War and the economy was of paramount importance
to many Americans. The quieting of international issues, which is a perceived strength of men,
and the growing noise around several domestic events, such as the House check-writing scandal,
helped shift electoral issues toward women’s perceived strengths. Critically, 1992 would then be
seen as only the first year of a decade-long focus on domestic issues – a focus that ended in 2001
with the 9/11 terrorist attacks and subsequent Iraq war.
Figure 3 illustrates a situation where women have increased rates of growth statehouse
membership during periods when the country is focused on domestic issues. In the first period,
until 1992, women’s growth in statehouses reflects a rate when international issues are stressed.
Between 1992 and 2000, as the focus in American politics shifts to domestic issues, women
capitalize on their perceived strength and increase their rate of entrance into state legislatures.
Finally, after the terrorist attacks of 2001, women’s growth in political representation would
return to the pre-1992, international climate, rate. In sum, Figure 4 shows what we might expect
if women are elected in higher numbers when domestic issues are more salient, but their rates of
increase drop off when foreign policy or security issues become the central focus of public
attention.
FIGURE 3 ABOUT HERE
Model 4: Gender salience and political context
Finally, Figure 4 conceptualizes the role of both contextual effects and gender salience on
the election of women to state legislatures. First, political context is highlighted by the different
rates of growth across the observation period. As in Figure 3, therefore, Figure 4 illuminates
distinct historical periods where domestic and international issues are at the forefront of
American politics. As discussed above, women’s political fortunes will rise and fall with this
political context. Second, to capture gender salience, Figure 4 includes an additional boost in
women’s representation in 1992. This jump is presented in Figure 4 as an increased rate of
growth in 1992, but only in this year. After the Year of the Woman, any growth in women’s
political representation is attributable to political context.
FIGURE 4 ABOUT HERE
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Convention