Author: Hannah Kiely Major: Political Science & Philosophy

During the spring semester of 2020, I conducted research aimed at identifying the causes of and the contributors to the gender gap in American political representation. Historically, males have far outnumbered females in this realm, and given the current political climate and the increasing controversy surrounding women’s rights, this research is extremely relevant. Time has proven that when one group consistently maintains power over long periods of time, problems arise. It is no secret that white males dominate the United States Congress, which has resulted in the marginalization of groups. Specifically, racial and ethnic minorities and women. In order to delve deeply into the topic and isolate root issues, I chose to focus my research on the gender disparity in the 2018 United States Senate election cycle. 

Before I began my research, I hypothesized that the most likely cause of the Congressional gender disparity (apart from the incumbency effect, which has traditionally been the largest predictor of candidate success) was a lack of financial support. It follows logically that in a capitalist society great amounts of money result in great amounts of success. However, once I began analyzing and coding campaign finance data against electoral success, it was apparent that a lack of financial backing was not a significant cause or contributor of gender inequity within the Senate. I was surprised to discover that a lack of female participation was a far greater contributor. If I had the opportunity to repeat this process, I would spend more time inquiring about the causes of this phenomenon, specifically. Further, I found that when females did run (at least in the 2018 Senate election), they won more often than their male counterparts, but simply did not run as often. This is important to note, as it indicates that if more females run for political office, they are likely to win. 

In order to arrive at this conclusion, I largely analyzed and coded data. I kept records of every candidate who ran for Senate in 2018, including their party, gender, state, region, total monetary contributions, and more. I read journals about trends and past election cycles, and compared my data to it. My mentor, Dr. Karen Sebold, was instrumental to this process. She pushed me to attend the Arkansas Political Science Association Conference and present my findings to Political Scientists from all over the state and region. Further, she encouraged me to apply for the Midwest Political Science Association Conference in Chicago, however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I was unable to attend. Presenting at the Arkansas Political Science Association’s Conference in Arkadelphia, Arkansas was extremely beneficial as I received feedback from prominent professors, scholars, and fellow students. I also had the opportunity to hear lectures from these experts, and know that this experience is one I will continue to cherish, and has positively impacted my academic journey in many ways.  

This research project has sparked my interest in injustice, particularly in the identification of its causes and the analysis of potential solutions. Throughout my research, a common theme was the oppression minority groups experienced when they were underrepresented in government. After I graduate, I plan to attend law school where I will gain the skills and experience necessary to be a voice for marginalized groups, and hope to live long enough to see a Congress that truly reflects the American demographic.