The Challenge
Women make up more than half of the U.S. population, yet the majority of elected and appointed positions in government are held by men.
Political insiders control who gets recruited to run for office, partisanship and winner-take-all voting often determines who wins, and antiquated legislative rules impact who can serve and lead.
The problem isn't just convincing more women candidates to run for office. The problem is there are structural and institutional barriers that limit women's odds of success at every stage of the electoral process.
The Solutions
To advance women's representation and leadership in the United States, we need to complement existing candidate-centric practices with innovative systems strategies.
Electing more women to government will strengthen our democracy by making it more representative, reviving bipartisanship and collaboration, improving policy outcomes, encouraging a new style of leadership, and cultivating trust in our elected bodies.
Women Serving
Modern legislative rules like onsite childcare so more women can serve effectively.
Women Running
Recruitment targets for political parties & gatekeepers so more women run, and giving targets for PACs & donors so more women run viable campaigns.
Women Winning
Ranked choice voting for executive & legislative offices so more women win.
Women Leading
Rankin Chisolm Rule for political appointments & hiring so more women lead.
How You Can Help
Join the work for systems strategies that address the structural barriers women face & enable sustained progress toward gender balance in representation and leadership in the United States.
Electeds
You've been elected to public office, and want to push for reforms
Donors
You want to contribute to allow us to keep doing our work
Allies
You're an allied organization, influencer, or shaping the conversation
Journalists
You're writing about gender parity and systemic reforms
Get Involved
New from RepresentWomen
Meet the Team: Faith Campbell
Posted on January 23, 2020
Hello! My name is Faith, and I just started as a research intern here at RepresentWomen. I’m in Washington for the Semester, but this is not my first time here by a long shot. My (twin) sister moved to the area a few years ago, and I have since repeatedly come to visit. I am a Political Science with a Pre-Law track and a minor in Religion at Marietta College, currently attend AU’s Washington Semester Program with a concentration in Foreign Policy. During my time so far at Marietta College I have been involved with multiple organizations in varying capacities. My favorite being my role as vice-president of the LGBTQIA+ Activism Club.
Read MoreMeet the Team: Katie Murnane
Posted on January 23, 2020
“If you want to lift up humanity, empower women. It is the most comprehensive, pervasive, high-leverage investment you can make in human beings.” Melinda Gates, Moment of Lift
Read MoreMeet the Team: Jordan
Posted on January 22, 2020
As a debater in high school, I was told to "cool it" or to "calm down" because I was "too aggressive" at least once a tournament. It took me way too long to decipher the coded language saying that I wasn't allowed to raise my voice or make impassioned arguments because I was a woman in a male-dominated sport. No matter what I did to try to counteract it--causing me to question my likeability and personality--I would be docked points. So, in my junior year, I decided to lean into it. I became the very best pant-suit-and-stiletto-wearing-cheerleader-debater that my school had seen. It was unapologetically me.
Read More