WOMEN AND POLITICS
PUP 3323
WST3930
Fall 2014
PROFESSOR LYNN LEVERTY
Office Hours: TH 2 – 4 p.m.
F 10 – noon
Anderson Hall, Room 319
lleverty@ufl.edu
352-273-2392
SYLLABUS
“Elections in the US are deeply gendered in several ways. Most obviously, men dominate the
electoral playing field. Ten of the eleven major candidates who vied for the Democratic and
Republican nominations for president in 2012 were men. Most behind-the-scenes campaign
strategists and consultants – the pollsters, media experts, fund-raising advisors, and those who
develop campaign messages – are also men. Further, most of the best-known network news
reporters and anchors charged with telling the story of the 2012 election and previous elections
…. were men….And the majority of those contributing the largest sum of money to candidates
and parties – perhaps the most essential ingredient in American politics – are men.” Carroll and
Fox, pages 5-6.
2014 is an election year and also the time in which 2016 candidates begin to establish their
strategies. As in 2012, both parties will focus on women voters who, in the United States,
outnumber men in almost every age group. Both parties are also trying to recruit women to run
for office. This fall the class will focus on gender and political campaigns, not only in the United
States but also internationally.
By the end of this class, students will be able to:
1. Understand the issues facing women in campaigning for public office;
2. Identify trends in women’s political behavior;
3. Understand the diversity of women’s viewpoints on public policy issues: and
4. Appreciate what women have brought to the political sphere.
There is a normative bias in the course. It rests on an assumption that diversity in public office
creates a more representative and effective government. Diversity includes not only gender, but
race and ethnicity, stance in the political spectrum, age, sexual orientation and personal
background.
Class Philosophy:
Learning is an active and interactive process. For this reason, the amount of time devoted to
lectures will be as minimal as possible. UF undergraduates are among the best in the nation.
You are all capable of doing this work very well. With that in mind, the class will focus heavily on
in‐depth discussion and analysis of the readings. Good preparation is a necessity for doing well
in this course. We will talk in considerable detail about this in class, but do feel free to come by
my office early and often to discuss any class assignments, reading or other issues.
Requirements:
1. Two papers (50%)
2. Midterm and final analyses (40%)
3. Participation (10%)
Extra credit opportunities will be available, but they will only be announced in class. I reserve
the right to add biweekly quizzes if class participation is not robust.
Information on this course is on the university’s e-learning course management system. The
syllabus is located there as well as lecture notes and other information. Please check this
regularly. I will also send some announcements out through the listserv e-mail. Note: I do not
put grades on e-learning. For this reason, you will need keep a record of your grades or retain
your returned papers.
I expect assignments to be turned in on the due date. One letter grade per day (not class days)
will be taken off for late papers unless you have obtained prior approval for a different date due
to special circumstances or have a documented illness or family emergency. Please do not
hesitate to let me know if you have some type of special circumstance, but you must do so
before the due date unless it is an emergency.
If 90% of life is just showing up, class participation is important. This grade depends not only on
physical presence (this will be checked at the beginning of most classes), but also your active
participation in class and your "class manners." This means being on time, refraining from side
discussions and other distracting behavior and respecting each other’s viewpoints. We will be
discussing controversial issues about which many people have strong opinions and beliefs so
mutual respect is critical. Phones should not be out unless needed for class research.
The easiest way to reach me is to come by during office hours or through e-mail. If my office
hours are not convenient, I am always happy to set a time to meet, so please do not hesitate to
ask me for a scheduled appointment. If you have any special needs, please let me know so
that we can work together to make this class a success.
Required reading:
Susan J. Carroll and Richard L. Fox, eds. Gender and Elections: Shaping the Future of
American Politics, 3rd edition. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2014.
Rainbow Murray, ed. Cracking the Highest Glass Ceiling: A Global Comparison of Women’s
Campaigns for Executive Office. Santa Barbara: Praeger, 2010.
Center for the American Woman and Politics: Fact Sheets and Studies
http://www.cawp.rutgers.edu/
Other material as required
COURSE SCHEDULE: (subject to change during the semester)
PART ONE: Introduction
August 26: First class
August 28: How far have women come in the public sphere?
September 2: Overview of textbooks and a look at elections internationally
Reading: Murray, chapter 1
PART TWO: International elections: how are women faring across the globe?
September 4: Europe and New Zealand
Reading: Murray chapter 6
Facts to check: what other women have led their countries in Europe, NZ or Australia?
September 9: Germany and France
Reading: Murray chapters 3 and 7
September 11: Latin America
Reading: Murray chapter 2
Facts to check: what other women have led their countries in Latin America?
September 16: Chile and Argentina
Murray: chapters 9 and 10
September 18: Africa
Reading: Murray chapter 8
Facts to check: what other women have led their countries in Africa?
September 23: What about Asia?
Reading: Derichs, Claudia, et al, “Gendering Moral Capital” Morality as a Political Asset and
Strategy of Top Female Politicians in Asia,” in Critical Asian Studies, September 2006, vol. 38,
issue 3, pages 245 – 270.
Facts to check: what women have led their countries in Asia?
September 25: Was the initial framework correct or does it need revisions?
Reading: Murray chapter 11
PART THREE: Issues in the United States
September 30: Female presidential candidates in the United States: an historical overview
Reading: Carroll chapter 2
CAWP, Fact Sheet on Women Who've Run for President and Vice President
CAWP, Polling Data on the Question of how Americans Feel about a Woman as a Presidential
Candidate (both found under the presidential watch section of the site)
***Biography due October 2****
October 2: Do our authors agree on the issues facing female candidates today?
Reading: review Murray chapter 11 and Carroll introduction
October 7 - 9: The 2008 elections: how significant were Hilary Clinton and Sarah Palin?
Reading: Murray chapters 4 and 5
October 14: The influence of female voters in 2012
Reading: Carroll chapter 1
CAWP, Gender Differences in Voter Turnout
***Midterm analysis due October 16***
October 16: Women are the majority of voters, but is there a unified voice?
Reading: Carroll chapter 3
October 21: The gender gap: media hype or true differences?
Reading: Carroll chapter 4
CAWP, The Gender Gap: Voting Choices in Presidential Elections
CAWP, The Gender Gap Attitudes on Public Policy
October 23: The role of women’s organizations in both elections and assisting women to run
for office
Reading: check the mission statement and activities of each group
Independent Women’s Forum
www.iwf.org
Concerned Women for America
www.cwfa.org
National Organization for Women
www.now.org
EMILY’S List
www.emilyslist.org
October 28 - 30: Minorities within a majority: Latinas, African-Americans and the LGBTQ
Community
Reading: Carroll chapters 5 and 6
Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund: History and Current Candidates
https://www.victoryfund.org/our-story/victory-fund-brief-history
CAWP, Women of Color in Elective Office
November 4 - 6: The role of political parties: success or failure?
Reading: Carroll chapter 8
Republican National Committee: RNC Women (specific reading tbd)
http://www.gop.com/coalition-support/
Democratic National Committee: Women
http://www.democrats.org/people/women
November 11: Veteran’s Day – no class
November 13: Advertising and the media: lots of money, but effective?
Reading: Carroll chapter 9
***November 18 Campaign paper due***
November 18 - 20: If not the presidency, what about Congressional elections?
Reading: Carroll chapter 7
CAWP, Women in the US Congress 2014
November 25: Happy Thanksgiving, no class
December 2 - 4: State elections: where it all starts
Reading: Carroll chapter 10
CAWP, 2014 Fact Sheets on State Legislatures
CAWP, 2014 Listing of Women in Statewide Elective Office
***Final analysis due***
December 9: Last class
Grade Calculation
Given 1000 points for the class, grades will be calculated as follows:
920 – 1000
A
890 – 919.9
A-
870 – 889.9
B+
820 - 869.9
B
790 – 819.9
B-
770 – 789.9
C+
720 – 769.9
C
690 – 719.9
C-
620 – 689.9
D
590 - 619.9
D-
Please note: a C- is not a qualifying grade for major, minor, gen ed, Gordon rule, or college
basic distribution credit. For more information, go to:
http://www.registrar.ufl.edu/catalog/policies/regulationgrades.html
Incompletes are only given in rare and deserving cases and at the discretion of the instructor.
Student who believe that they will not be able to complete all the requirements for the course in
due time have to discuss an “I” (Incomplete) grade with the instructor. Students will have to sign
an “Incomplete Contract” (available at http://www.clas.ufl.edu/forms/) and complete all their
requirements by a set date. Students should be aware that “I” grades become punitive after one
term.
Students are expected to comply with UF’s Academic Honesty Guidelines Students who commit
an act of academic dishonesty will receive the appropriate sanctions. For more information, go
to: http://www.dso.ufl.edu/studentguide/studentrights.php
.
Class Participation: 100 points
You will receive 4 points for every class that you attend (with the exception of the drop/add
week and the last class). For those of you who are mathematically inclined, this means that
students who attend regularly a few points of receive extra credit.
Assignments
Papers:
You will complete two short papers for this class. The first is a biography of a woman outside
the United States who is politically active in her nation. In this case, politically active is defined
as holding a significant public office or being a leader of an opposition party. You may not write
about one of the women we will study in class. In addition to basic life facts (birth, family,
education, profession, political party, etc.) think about questions such as what kind of effect did
she have on her country and her government (and the world if applicable)? What events shaped
or changed her life? Did she overcome obstacles? Take risks? Get lucky? What are the
adjectives you would most use to describe her? And, finally, why is/was she a good role model
for other women interested in a political career in her geographic area to follow? Or, why is she
not a good role model?
Please note that in parliamentary systems the office of president is often largely ceremonial; it is
generally the prime minister who holds political power. You will need to make sure that the
woman you choose does have significant political power.
This will be due on October 2 at the beginning of class and uploaded to Sakai.
The second paper is an investigation of one woman’s campaign this fall for Congress or for the
governor of her state. You may not choose long-term incumbents unless that incumbent has a
well-funded challenger who is polling well (Real Clear Politics has the latest polling numbers on
most races http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/latest_polls). Your analysis should consider
the candidate’s personal background, her primary issues, party support, which voters are
attracted to her (and which are not), her media (controlled media), as well as the media
response to her, and the outcome of her election.
This paper will be due November 18 at the beginning of class and uploaded to Sakai.
Both of these papers should be 8 – 10 pages in length, double-spaced and usual font with
appropriate academic citations. You may use the style format (MLA or APA preferred) that you
are most comfortable with, but please be consistent in your usage. If you are unsure about
which sources to cite, you may contact the University Writing Center or check their website
(http://writing.ufl.edu/writing-center/writing-resources/). In general, in addition to direct quotes,
information that is not generally known (e.g. Hillary Clinton is a Democrat) should be cited.
Analyses:
Midterm analysis:
Take-home due October 16 (will be handed out a week prior).
Final analysis:
Take-home due December 9 (will be handed out a week prior).
Both of these analyses will require you to use your author’s theories to analyze a specific issue
concerning women and public office. They will be take-home (please work alone, the honor
code will be required) and should be about five pages in length with appropriate sources and
citations. It is likely that the issue will be one currently in the news, so please keep up with
current events.
GRADING CRITERIA:
As I grade papers and any written assignments I consider the following questions:
1. Does the assignment follow the requirements? This one seems easy, but each semester I get
work that does not follow the requirements.
2. Is the topic clearly defined and adequately explored? In other words, do you know exactly
what you are writing about and have you looked at all sides of the issue?
3. Is the analysis done with thought and creativity? I do not want you to simply take someone
else's analysis and state it in your words; you should take time to think about the topic and
reach your own analysis and conclusions.
4. Is there a succinct summary at the end of the paper?
An "A" assignment follows all the requirements, has excellent sources (for papers) and is written
with outstanding thought and creativity.
A "B" paper follows all of the requirements, has more than adequate sources and is well thought
out, but does not have the outstanding analysis of an "A."
A "C" paper meets all the requirements and has adequate sources and, but has flaws in the
writing and/or analysis.
A "D" paper meets all the requirements, but has less than adequate sources, may have serious
writing flaws and the analysis is not well developed.
An "F" does not meet the requirements and is a disaster. I have rarely received "D" or "F"
papers in this class, but there have been a few.
Adequate sources means that you have made an attempt to review the best literature on your
subject including books, academic journals and Internet sources. No paper should have less
than ten. Better papers use a wider variety of sources to ensure that all aspects of the topic are
covered. Remember, some sources will simply be used as background for your paper. Others
will be quoted. Both types should be included in your bibliography.
Do not use Wikipedia as a source! I do not grade papers that use Wikipedia. Much better
Internet sources are government sites, those with an “edu,” peer referenced journals in the
library’s holdings and the like. Web sites posted by interest groups are fine as long as you
understand their bias.