'Progress in the Midst of Continued Obstacles-Women’s Advancement to Cabinet Posts in Canada and the United States.'

Abstract

In the U.S. and Canada, women have made great strides in attaining cabinet positions, especially since the 1990s. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of women’s participation in the American and Canadian executive branches since the middle of the 20th Century. Women continue to comprise a minority of executive officials, serve at lower cabinet ranks and disproportionately in positions considered stereotypically female. While socio-economic factors do not seem working against women’s promotion to executive positions, gender stereotypes continue to interact with political institutions and processes, significantly hindering women’s advancement. While the analysis provides some evidence that women cabinet ministers substantively represent women’s interests, further research is required to bolster this assertion. We call for the need to refresh and refine analyses of women’s political participation especially regarding women in cabinet posts.