Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction to Women in Politics -- Women Struggle for the Vote: The History of Women's Suffrage -- Positions and Pathways: Women's Representation in Government -- Intersectionality and Difference -- Explaining the Political Representation of Women-Culture -- Explaining the Political Representation of Women-Social Structure -- Explaining the Political Representation of Women-Politics -- Explaining the Political Representation of Women-International Factors -- Do Women Make a Difference? -- Regions: The West and the United States -- Eastern Europe and Central Asia -- Latin America and the Caribbean -- Middle East and North Africa -- Asia and the Pacific -- Sub-Saharan Africa -- WhereDo We Go From Here? And How Do We Get There?

"Women, Politics, and Power provides a clear and detailed introduction to women's political participation and representation across all branches of government and a wide range of countries and regions. Using broad statistical overviews and detailed case-study accounts, authors Pamela Paxton, Melanie M. Hughes, and Tiffany Barnes document both historical trends and the contemporary state of women's political strength across diverse countries. The text considers experiences of women from a range of marginalized groups, including racial, ethnic, and religious minorities; indigenous peoples; and those that face discrimination based on their sexual orientation and gender identity. Readers will learn about cultural, structural, political, and international influences on women's access to political power, about the old and new barriers women continue to face like violence, and about the difference women make once in political office. Dedicated chapters on six geographic regions highlight distinct influences and patterns in different parts of the world. There is simply no other book that offers such a thorough and multidisciplinary synthesis of research on women's political power around the world"-- Provided by publisher.