Good News: More Women in Political Leadership Roles

A record number of women are serving in the 117th Congress | Pew Research Center

27% in the House and 24% in the Senate.. Consistent increases, especially since the large increase in 1992. Democrats have more than twice as many women representatives, at 38% versus 14% for Republicans.

Details on congressional data.

Women in Congress | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives

History of Women in the U.S. Congress | CAWP (rutgers.edu)

Women now hold 36% of state and federal judgeships.

Statistics | National Association of Women Judges (nawj.org)

Women hold 31% of the seats in state legislatures. This number was flat at 25% from 2009 through 2018 before increasing to 29% in 2019. Two-thirds of these reps were Democrats. States that lean Democratic have significantly more women representatives. Only one state, Nevada, has a majority of female legislators.

Women in State Legislatures 2021 | CAWP (rutgers.edu)

Women hold just 18% of governorships. Here, Democrats and Republicans have performed equally well.

History of Women Governors | CAWP (rutgers.edu)

The Pew Research Organization tracks several other measures of female participation in leadership positions. Biden’s cabinet has a record 48% female proportion. 7% of Fortune 500 CEOs are women. 27% of corporate board seats are now held by women. 31% of college presidencies are held by women.

The Data on Women Leaders | Pew Research Center

In general, the growth in participation by women in these public and private leadership positions has been relatively consistent for the last 25 years. Additional progress appears highly likely during the next 25 years.

Politico takes a more negative view of progress, highlighting the continuing inequality, weak progress in some states and stalled progress by some measures. It provides helpful state level data.

Why state legislatures are still very white — and very male (politico.com)

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