Examining the role of women in the West Wing of the White House

Abstract

Women have been making political progress in the United States for many years. From obtaining the right to vote in 1920 to the Women?s Movement of the 1960s and 1970s to women holding leadership roles in government including Speaker of the House of Representative, women have been making progress in America?s political system. However, the number of women that have worked in the West Wing of the White House as key political advisors to the President is very low in proportion to the number of women who participate in the American political system overall. Why have women not advanced within the White House yet been appointed to top positions such as the Secretary of State or work in top executive positions in gubernatorial offices? What is the reason for the lack of women working in top level positions in the White House?