Overview

Walking the Gendered Tightrope analyses the gendered expectations for women in high offices through the examples of British Prime Minister Theresa May and U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Even at their highest positions, and while completing their greatest achievements, both May and Pelosi faced gendered critiques and intraparty challenges to their leadership. While other books have analysed the barriers to higher office that women face, this book reveals how women in positions of power are still forced to balance feminine stereotypes with the perception of power as masculine in order to prove their legitimacy. By examining intraparty dynamics, this book offers a unique comparison between a majoritarian presidential and Westminster parliamentary system. While their parties promoted Pelosi and May to highlight their progressive values, both women faced continually gendered critiques about their abilities to lead their caucuses on difficult policy issues, such as the Affordable Care Act and two Trump impeachment votes for Nancy Pelosi, or finishing Brexit for Theresa May. Grounded in the legislative literature from the United States and Britain, as well as historical accounts and personal interviews, Walking the Gendered Tightrope contributes to the fields of gender and politics, legislative studies, American politics, and British politics.

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9780472076345

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Reviews

“By contrasting Theresa May and Nancy Pelosi, two leaders serving in entirely different political systems and from opposite ends of the ideological spectrum, Haussman and Kedrowski tease out important patterns in the challenges female leaders face. They demonstrate how institutional dynamics and gendered power norms impact women leaders differently than their male counterparts. The book holds important lessons for scholars and practitioners who want to see more diversity at the highest levels of government.” —Michele Swers, Georgetown University

"""By contrasting Theresa May and Nancy Pelosi, two leaders serving in entirely different political systems and from opposite ends of the ideological spectrum, Haussman and Kedrowski tease out important patterns in the challenges female leaders face. They demonstrate how institutional dynamics and gendered power norms impact women leaders differently than their male counterparts. The book holds important lessons for scholars and practitioners who want to see more diversity at the highest levels of government."" --Michele Swers, Georgetown University--Michele Swers"

Author Information

Melissa Haussman is Professor of Political Science at Carleton University. Karen M. Kedrowski is Director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics and Professor of Political Science at Iowa State University.

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