Political Ambition Among Men and Women State Party Leaders: Testing the Countersocialization Perspective

While differences between men and women in political behavior have declined, women remain underrepresented in public office in America. Studies indicate that even women in elite positions in political parties have less ambition for elective office than their male counterparts. This article examines the countersocialization theory to see whether politically ambitious women undergo significantly different experiences from non-ambitious women and from ambitious men or whether factors leading to political ambition are the same for both men and women. Men and women state convention delegates in 1984 were asked questions regarding their desire for future elective public offices and their past political experiences. There was a significant difference in the level of political ambition of male and female delegates. However, the causes of political ambition appear to be diffuse, and factors leading to political ambition are similar for both men and women.