Changing Patterns of Female Recruitment to the U. S. House of Representatives

Abstract

A systematic examination of the backgrounds of women who were elected to the House between 1916 and 1976 reveals that a sharply decreasing proportion were widows of congressmen who died in office. There was also a discernible decrease in the percentage of congresswomen whose families possessed either extraordinary wealth or a history of political activity. In the meantime, there was a significant increase in the proportion of female House members who had legal training, who had elective experience, and who had a living spouse at the time of their initial election. A decrease in the average age of congresswomen was also reported. These findings suggest that the resources once found useful by female House candidates are no longer relied upon as fully as they once were and that the proportion of American women who have access to the effective political opportunity structure and who are available for public office has increased. Both of these developments have important implications for a democratic political system.

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