The Inclusion Calculation: Why Men Appropriate Women's Representation - Paperback

by Valdini (Author)

In The Inclusion Calculation, Melody E. Valdini examines women's representation in politics and offers insights into men's strategies for using women to advance their own political ambitions. While it is certainly valuable to encourage women to run for office, it is equally important to understand the motivations of male power-holders. To that end, this book examines how men strategically feminize their political parties or government to retain control, demonstrating that a woman's selection as a candidate often depends on a man's perception of her value.

Author Biography

Melody E. Valdini is Associate Professor of Political Science at Portland State University, the Associate Editor of the Journal of Women, Politics & Policy, and the 2017-2019 chair of the Representation and Electoral Systems section of the American Political Science Association. Her research focuses on the consequences of institutional design, with a particular focus on electoral systems, political parties, and women's descriptive representation. She has published in the American Journal of Political Science, Political Research Quarterly, Electoral Studies, and Politics & Gender, and won the Carrie Chapman Catt Prize in 2012. She is co-author of The Character of Democracy: How Institutions Shape Politics.