Female Public Officials: A Different Voice?

Abstract

In this article we examine the extent to which women in public office exhibit a different voice from that of male officeholders. We explore rationales that justify a different voice as well as how this difference manifests itself in politics. Then we present a model of the different types of voices female public officials have exercised. The research indicates that as the number of women in public office grows, increasing differences will be seen not so much between women and men officeholders as among women officeholders themselves. Finally, we expect to see women in public office advocating a wider variety of policy goals, and as women in public office increase in number, we expect to see a redefinition emerge of the political.