Men are usually the first that come to mind when people think of upper-level political positions. Although women comprise most of the population, they are severely underrepresented in politics. In “Women as Political Candidates,” Han elaborates on the disparity of women to men in the political field. Women have made many strides in politics since they gained footing in politics, yet there are still few women in office. Most women are not instilled with the possibility of running for office, so it is not an option for them. Aside from that, the incumbency advantage- when current political office holders run for reelection and benefit more than the lesser known opponent, also hinders their chances.
There are many factors that contribute to gender inequality in the elective office. Men usually show interest for state
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Regardless of gender, men and women both have similar odds of winning.
As for the part the incumbency plays in, Han attributes the low ratio of women to men in politics in part to the incumbency advantage. Over 95% of incumbents in the House of Representatives and the Senate are reelected. Incumbents can use their present or previous position in government to get votes. Incumbents have a few advantages over their lesser known opponents. They are often well known and have more campaign funds at their disposal. Oftentimes, the only time women get a fair chance is when there is an open seat (75).
Additionally, fundraising is an integral part of political campaigns. Although 70% of women may believe that women seeking office cannot raise funds, the opposite is true (Lawless and Fox 7). Countless women such as Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, Representative Jane Harmon, and Hillary Rodham Clinton have all been successful in raising camping