Gendering the GOP: Intraparty Politics and Republican Women's Representation in Congress

To understand the evolution of women's congressional representation, Catherine N. Wineinger's Gendering the GOP examines intraparty gender dynamics among Republican congresswomen, highlighting the gendered implications of congressional polarization. She argues that Republican women have organized around their partisan-gender identity to increase visibility and uphold a party culture that limits women's presence and power.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 27 April 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

In her book "Gendering the GOP," Catherine N. Wineinger makes a compelling argument that to fully comprehend the evolution of women's congressional representation, we must shift our focus from solely examining legislative behavior to analyzing intraparty gender dynamics. Unlike previous studies on women in Congress, Wineinger exclusively examines the experiences of Republican congresswomen, seeking to uncover the gendered implications of congressional polarization.

Developing a novel theory of partisan-gender identity, Wineinger posits that Republican women in Congress are not mere gender-blind partisans but rather individuals who have organized around their partisan-gender identity to differentiate themselves from both Democratic women and Republican men. This has resulted in increased visibility for Republican congresswomen as party messengers, while simultaneously upholding a party culture that limits women's presence and power within the institution.

Through extensive interviews with women members of Congress and in-depth analyses of House floor speeches, Wineinger provides a detailed account of how women have navigated and shaped existing gender dynamics within the House GOP conference. She highlights the challenges and opportunities that women face in Congress, as well as the strategies they employ to advance their interests and promote gender equality.

Overall, "Gendering the GOP" is a valuable contribution to the study of women in politics and offers insightful perspectives on the evolving role of women in American politics. Wineinger's analysis provides valuable insights into the complex dynamics between gender, party affiliation, and congressional representation, and sheds light on the ways in which women are shaping the political landscape.

Weight: 10g
Dimension: 235 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197556542