Women in Politics (formerly POLI 450)

Catalog description

3 Lecture Hour(s) 0 Lab Hour(s) This course examines the development of women in politics from four different vantage points: a historical overview, a politico-economic and cultural development perspective, a view from electoral politics and electoral participation, and a view from a global perspective. This course begins with a historical analysis part of the course focuses on political, social, economic and cultural changes in women’s lives, the forces behind those changes, and their reflection in American national public policy. The third segment of the course studies women as relatively new participants in U.S. electoral politics, and the challenges and opportunities for women as candidates and officeholders. This part of the course examines the specific trajectory of African-American women in electoral politics as case studies to illustrate broader developments in the body politic. Finally, the fourth part of the course examines the above issues from a global perspective.