FEMALE EMPOWERMENT - THE INFLUENCE OF WOMEN REPRESENTING WOMEN

The concept of political empowerment has been applied to ethnic and ra cial minorities, where it has been shown to positively influence polit ical attitudes and participation. We examine whether political empower ment has the same positive consequences for women. Using data from the 1992 National Election Study and Almanac for American Politics 1990, 1992, and 1994, we explore whether women who are represented by women in Congress are more likely to be interested in and participate in pol itics, have a greater sense of political efficacy, competence, and tru st, and evaluate Congress as an institution more favorably than women :represented by men. In general, we find women who are represented by women are more interested, participate more, and have greater senses o f political efficacy and political competence. Moreover, the findings clearly seem to be a function of empowerment rather than other factors that might account for both the election of a woman to Congress and d ifferences in attitudes and behavior identified above.