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Campaigns

An effective political campaign is a connected series of operations designed to persuade constituents to vote for you, your candidate, a party or an issue. Campaigns require methodical planning, organization and implementation.

Women face a number of obstacles implementing effective, winning campaigns. Women generally have more difficulty than men do in raising sufficient funds to win a campaign, in large part because they are traditionally not the primary breadwinners. Similarly, women may not have equal access to decision-making regarding the distribution of funds. Traditionally, women must earn the internal support of their party or, alternatively, work even harder to win as independent candidates. Rather than focusing on the substance of a campaign and its message, the media and the public may focus instead on the appearance of a woman candidate or her role in the home. To earn the support of their own party and constituents, women must work harder than men do to create clean, targeted and compelling messages.

March 8, 2022
Statement on International Women’s Day

By Ashim Steiner

Event

USA: Are minority and women candidates penalized by party politics? Race, gender, and access to party support

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February 15, 2022

USA: Are minority and women candidates penalized by party politics? Race, gender, and access to party support

Racial/ethnic minorities and women continue to be underrepresented in public office in the United States.

Racial/ethnic minorities and women continue to be underrepresented in public office in the United States.

USA: The contingent effects of sexism in primary elections

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February 14, 2022

USA: The contingent effects of sexism in primary elections

Although the landscape for female candidates in U.S. politics has improved, research continues to find that many voters possess sexist attitudes.

Although the landscape for female candidates in U.S. politics has improved, research continues to find that many voters possess sexist attitudes.

February 7, 2022
Australia: Women for Election encourages women to enter politics in new ad

Women for Election has released a campaign ahead of Australia’s election season officially kicking off to encourage more women to enter politics.

The campaign was created by BMF and is supported by UN Women Australia.

 Rep. Val Demings, pictured, and Cheri Beasley have both drawn notice for managing to clear their Senate primary fields of heavyweight competition. | Mandel Ngan-Pool/Getty
February 1, 2022
How two black women conquered US Senate primary politics

In an act of political muscle-flexing, Val Demings and Cheri Beasley managed to clear the Democratic field in two of the nation’s most prominent Senate races.

January 31, 2022
France: women candidates for presidency highlight politics' sexism problem

France has never had a woman as president. With a number of female candidates in the election race this time, could that finally change? Challenges range from a #MeToo campaign to an "invisible" barrier to the top job.

Unbought and unbossed: at 50, Shirley Chisholm continues to inspire black women in politics

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January 27, 2022

Unbought and unbossed: at 50, Shirley Chisholm continues to inspire black women in politics

By Anoa Changa

For Rep. Barbara Lee, part of Chisholm's legacy is how she inspired and empowered other Black women to reach higher.

By Anoa Changa

For Rep. Barbara Lee, part of Chisholm's legacy is how she inspired and empowered other Black women to reach higher.